Ah Sally,

if only I could claim such lofty reasons.

No, my main reason is simply that I don't enjoy reading poetry very much. I
prefer stories. Some poems are tell stories very well and I tend to enjoy
those most. Others have a certain something that clicks with me. Most - old
or new, modern or aincient simply doesn't appeal and I tend to avoid it.

There is one exception in terms of my reasons for not reading. I read a
Charles Bukowski book a year and a half ago and was swept away by his
writing and the way he communicated etc Truly marvellous and I vowed not to
read any more because I was afraid I might end up unconsciously trying to
imitate him and found the thought frightening. A bit pretentious, I suppose,
but it scared me a little.

I don't read Les Murray either and confess that I sometimes find him
difficult on the page, but quite excellent to listen to. It may be I'm more
a listener to poetry than I am a reader of it.

Cheers,


Frank


> Frank - is the fact you dont read Ted Hughes to do with Les Murray saying
he
> wouldnt read English poetry and consequently hadnt read Keats? I could
fully
> understand this from the point of view of his objection to "Cultural
Cringe"
> ie assuming that English writing is better than ones own country's. The
same
> thing operates in Scotland. Its a twist of the 'dead white Europeans"
> syndrome indeed I should not be surprised if an Australian made up that
> phrase,
> Please comment
> bw
> SallyE
>