Disappointed tonight in Mahler's 5th, which I dont remember listening
to all the way thru before, except for the sublime 3rd movement.
Then The Bob Dylan Story on Radio 2 was brilliant as ever. Now
it is my favourite Tallis Scholars.
But to Matthew's poems. I bought 'Dragons' six months ago when
it came out and enjoyed it. I seem to remember some highly structured
poems (a sequence) making full use of the page. At the time I
thought the 'Dragons' poem the most striking but reading it today
I find the word 'dragons' cropping up overmuch. I think my favourite
poem in this selection is 'Outside my window', which is so clever.
'Museum of the Forest' approaches it but is not quite so perfect.
I feel a great opportunity was mussed in 'John Keats in Winchester'
remembering Nicholas Roe's book re Peterloo etc. I think Matthew
must have relied solely on the Letters. Or am I just not a good reader.
Much poetry in 'The Cathedral', as in 'The REtrochoir' but I didnt
feel I was fed enough emotional information.
I wonder where I have buried 'Dragons'? (My books are in cardboard
boxes now having run out of shelfspace years ago). I should dig
it out and re-read it. One thing though Matthew certainly can
write. I am surprised that a few of his weaker pieces have made
it to this selection.
Douglas Clark, Bath, England mailto: [log in to unmask]
Lynx: Poetry from Bath .......... http://www.bath.ac.uk/~exxdgdc/lynx.html
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