Hi Bob.
I too have consciously done imitative work. Mine though was imitative of
songwriters rather than poets. I also have my writing heroes, but they are
short story writers, not poets. SO in a way, I do the things we are
discussing here - just not much with the work of other poets. In response to
my 'I want to do that!' in response to the short story writers, I found it
easier to tell my stories in a 'songy' style, eventually my own style -
replete with deficiencies though it is.
I agree that Murray is excellent to chat to in the flesh and to listen to. I
really do get so much more from hearing him than I do from reading him on
the page - there's no comparison.
Cheers,
Frank
> Hi Frank, Sally, (all who're reading),
>
> I think I'm with Sally here, Frank.
>
> Why? You might ask, and if y do then here's an answer!
>
> Well, because if I hadn't read some poems that really hooked me years ago
> I'd never have thought, "I wanna do that!" And I accept that lots of my
> stuff was then purely imatative - but I gradually changed the subjects and
> changed how mine looked and sounded too.
>
> I guess I read poems because I like poems. I read novels and stories, too.
> But I sometimes see that a poem gives me as much, or more, than a novel or
a
> story. I like poems. I guess that this must rub off on my writing. When I
> think back to when I started writing I thought all poems looked like the
> poems I'd read and it was natural to imitate. I didn't know how else to do
> it.
>
> And then, years after, when I got to meet some of the people who had
written
> the books I'd loved and learned I was amazed to see they were so ...
> human(?), more human that the photos on the back of the books. I mean they
> said "thank you," they drank beer, they talked and listened and laughed
like
> everyone else. (OK, I know there's also one or two who're a bit off as
well,
> but...). The myth that the best poetry comes from elsewhere is powerfull,
> tho. I guess in England it exists too! Over the last few years people have
> mentioned various places with awe: Newcastle, Brighton, London, Liverpool,
> Manchester... as if they were Cheese Of The Week At The Deli. Hasn't it
> always been so?
>
> And, changing the subject a bit, I find Les Murray the most gracious guy
to
> sit and have a beer with - but I've heard he's got a big poetry-political
> agenda - I guess it's just that we chat about things we trust won't cause
> wobblies in the other. I don't find I keep pulling his books off my shelf
> either. I used to think that was because I couldn't find an Australian
> accent in my head because I first heard him read and then bought the
books.
> I guess it's also because he's a canny reader.
>
> Bob
>
>
> >From: Sally Evans <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: Frank and Ted - Frank
> >Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 21:34:56 +0100
> >
> >This is interesting - well I think you should read more Bukowsli - at
first
> >you might find your wwriting a little swayed by his, but then it would
even
> >out and you would write better as a result of having gone through the
> >influence. That is how a lot of writers develop - by going through
various
> >influences as they extend their reading. Think what you are missing, what
> >you are denying yourself by not reading something you would probably gain
> >so
> >much from!
> >As for reading versus listening, listening is probably the better of the
> >two
> >forms, passing on more from the originator to the listener, but many of
us
> >so much enjoy reading that we would not be preared to give it up! Also
> >reading links us back to writers in prevous centuries, though in future
> >this
> >will be able to be done in film and sound.
> >bw
> >SallyE
> >
> >
> >on 24/6/04 3:59 am, Frank at [log in to unmask] wrote:
> >
> > > 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
> > >>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today!
> http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger
>
|