Monday, May 25, 2009

Poetry in motion

The cultural decline of the UK was wonderfully illustrated by the seedy little struggle for the post of professor of poetry at Oxford University.

There were two candidates. The first was Ruth Padel; an largely anonymous writer who also ran the Independent poetry column. The second candidate was Derek Walcott. He is slightly better known. Many of us have a vague recollection of sitting through one of his tedious verses during their GCSEs. Unfortunately, Derek had a eye for the Laydees. While working as an academic, he "propositioned" them, and there is nothing more irritating than a lecherous lecturer.

Ruth, recognized the value of this information and leaked it to some sympathetic journalists. Derek had to withdraw his candidature, leaving Ruth with a free run. However, when she was elected, this nasty little tactic was exposed and she was forced to resign.

With these two tainted candidates out of the way, the position is being re-advertised. However, the antics of these two writers have offered more entertainment than all the poetry written since the war. English poetry is a total irrelevance. If you need proof, go into any bookshop and find the new poetry section. Then compare this paltry offering to the rest of the literature available.

The problem is easy to identify. English poetry has nothing to say to the rest of us. We respond by ignoring it.

10 comments:

  1. Laughable nonsense. Peasant.

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  2. "An old art spreading rumours about / Paradise, it begs outside the gates / Of the gods: the active gods come out."

    Or are we not to count Australians?

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  3. Yawn.

    What has this got to do with Uk Bubble/House bubble exactly?

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  4. Come on it's Labours fault, obviously, it always is. Lecturers are usually Labour Commie supporters aren't they. Oxford's Red with Labour flags all teaching irrelevant degrees at our expense. It makes my blood boil.

    I bet they like immigrants and support CND as well!

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  5. To fill the post-war gone-walkabout poetry void, I offer

    The boy stood on the burning deck
    His feet were covered in blisters.
    He split his trousers
    Up the back
    And had to borrow his sister's.

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  6. Hey Alice!

    I see ze French air has got to you....

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  7. Anon 11.15

    Quite simple:

    House Bubble = Plasma TVs

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  8. Axis of evil lists ,looney toons lists, AAA sovereign credit lists .

    Where does that other Looney bankrupt atomic power the U.K and its great leaders fit?

    The failed states list?

    At least the Il kings have no record of wasting billions invading other countries to deliver “freedom“.

    They just pay attention to their own national Defence from “all options on the table” rogue states looking for weapons of mass production .

    Monarchy has its advantages when elections for honest politicians are a waste of time and money.

    Much simpler: The King is dead long live the king .And he gets to appoint the official poet without fuss.

    In korea they make poems and sing praises to the IL king.

    In england they blow property bubbles ,make american allies reward corrupt banksters and labour lords and think they are more clever than stupid thick Nth koreans.
    Oz.

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  9. The problem with Poetry is the poor quality of modern poets. I grew up with "old-fashioned" poets like John Greenleaf Whittier. Interesting, accessible, enjoyable - and written over a century ago.

    Something more up-to-date would be Ted Hughes' "Crow" - but that is still over 35 years old.

    And all derided by modern poets as written by "Dead White Males". And if that is their basis for assessing the relative quality of a work is it so surprising that so much modern poetry is simply dreadful?

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  10. Dearieme- great stuff! You should write poetry you know.

    Seriously, he/she's right- Larkin kept the flag flying; half mast it's true.

    Oh and Alice- love this poetry thang.

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