I apologise if the blipvert style of email caused any distress. I
guess I was far too pleased with myself at obtaining email at
Glastonbury against what I saw as considerable odds. It was meant to
be a jokey style rather than a put-down. In retrospect, I should have
sent a more considered email. My style is straightforward, and shoot
from the heart. My rationale for it is that I do you (and others
who've been the butt of my opinions) the courtesy and respect of what
I see to be honesty. All this is at the cost of causing offense and
slipping into the boorish, compressed as it was in the original email,
leaving too much to be wrought from such a slender frame. Balance and
consideration hasn't often figured in the style of my discourse in the
past and this is something I'm trying to change.

The poets I saw, admittedly a small, random selection of the numbers
who performed, were pleasing and interesting in diction and content
considering the style they'd chosen. Unfortunately, my visits
coincided with Benjamin Zephaniah-style poets (not Joolz - I'd just
seen her beforehand) which countered my experience of the P&W tent of
previous years which seemed to feature a wider range of talents,
voices and styles, including *for example*, an experimental sound
poet. I guess my disappointment wasn't at the quality but what *seemed
to me* to be an homogeneous choice of role model. I accept that I
could be wrong. This is, after all, a partial and personal perspective
of quite a large event.

The P&W tent is a great institution and long may it last. You have a
lot to be proud of there and I admire you wholeheartedly for it.
Please accept my unreserved apologies for any distress caused.

Roger

P.S. It was Dudley Sutton AKA Tinker in Lovejoy, "The Beiderbecke Connection"

On 6/28/05, Annie McGann <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Roger
>
> It is a pity that you pop into the Poetry&Words tent, read out your poem and
> then indicate here on poetryetc that we are not quite good enough for you.
> It was a great weekend despite the swamp conditions and once more we
> showcased over 35 poets. I don't know if you saw them all but you
> successfully lumped us all in together. Joolz? I'm glad you enjoyed reading
> your own work out even if we weren't up to your high standards. I'm sure you
> would rock the tent if you did a full set.
>
> Re: "That's if there is a best…"
>
> We give little known poets a chance as well as inviting the famous ones so
> sometimes, yes, our poets aren't always very experienced or incredibly great
> writers but we give them a chance because poets want to learn the ropes and
> we want to encourage new voices. Then we also have accomplished poets like
> Carol Ann Duffy, who braved the mud, showcased her new work and even did an
> extra reading in a cafe in the market place.
>
> The messages on poetryetc are written in friendly 'we know everyone' voices
> and I think the tone of your message tells the members that anyone at P&W is
> not the sort of poet they would like to hear/read. As a member here for a
> couple of years or so now I respect the writers here and I am interested to
> read their opinions, news and poems. I feel that the voices on this message
> board have authority and represent good taste and wisdom, so when I read
> that the event I have been involved in refered to in such a way I think that
> people will believe that we are all crap poets and when my name come up
> they'll say...oh that Glastonbury poet ... don't they all try to be like
> Joolz (who ever that is :-) That is such a put down.
>
> I personally, along with a team of other poets and helpers, put a lot of
> love and hard work into the festival and we do so for no payment. Maybe next
> time you could come and actually say hello to us and meet the poets instead
> of being anonymous and slagging us off. Your message seems so superior and
> dismissive. I remember having to stick up for P&W last year as well so you
> know that some of us are on poetryetc. to read your barbed report. It's so
> sad to come home from the festival and find that you have written to
> everyone on poetryetc that we were generally not quite good enough. I guess
> it made you feel good to write it but it is hurtful to me to find it in my
> inbox when I got home.
>
> Annie
>
> >From: roger day <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: Poetryetc provides a venue for a dialogue relating to poetry and
> > poetics <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: emailing from glastonbury
> >Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2005 19:16:21 +0100
> >
> >and most of the poets seem to want to be Joolz! Help! Will embalm &
> >preserve the best for examination later! That's if there is a best.
> >
> >Went on the open mic spot after that bloke from the Beidebecke Tapes
> >was on (the one that isn't James Bolam or from Z Cars - older members
> >will know). Very wierd feeling. Read poem. Reception OK.
> >
> >Roger
> >
> >--
> >http://www.badstep.net
>


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