Okay, I see.
I don't think there's anyone employed by Darlington Arts Centre, either,
that's particularly interested in poetry as such. But there is the
difference that here the powers that be are willing to rent us a room at a
nominal fee and let us get on with it, and if we set up a reading or
workshop they'll sell tickets at the desk for us.
Our women's writing and performing group here in Darlington, Vane Women,
contains poets like S.J.Litherland and myself, whose work though not by any
means extreme is often nearer your end of the spectrum, and up to 10 others
one of whom often writes comic stuff in local dialect. Many of our different
audiences around the region consider Margaret by far the best writer of the
group, because they can relate to what she's saying. In terms of what she
does, I've seen her get better and better at it, and take on more
challenges, over the dozen or so years I've known her; and she started out
better than your dodo man in the first place. (But if he's getting his
returns at the level he's at now, why would he want to develop, unless you
can kindle a respect for the art itself in him?)
However, the term that tends to get used to describe VW's rather more
intellectual work is "depressing", no matter what it's about. So, does that
mean Jackie Litherland and I are at fault, because we aren't pitching our
style at a level where it will be utterly comprehensible to the ordinary
local-paper-type reader? I hope not, because neither of us has any intention
of trying to do anything but improve and develop what we do already.
best joanna
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Bircumshaw" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 1:10 PM
Subject: Re: Local Poetic Culture
> Yup, Joanna, but the matters I've related did not arise from any
> confrontation between myself and Ken Berry - I've known him for 10 years
> and
> try to encourage him to, well, develop his style into something more
> flexible, shall I say?
>
> The aggro that happened came from people who do not read poetry nor have
> any
> interest in it but somehow perceive Ken and others similar as writing work
> that 'communicates' and has 'accessibility'. which virtues they say I
> lack.
>
> People devoid of interest in poetry who are employed by an arts centre.
>
> The social coding is that I (and others like me) offend against, erm, what
> can I call it, a kind of collective ego by demuring from a certain
> standard
> of mediocrity. It is not an issue of my being confrontational but rather
> failing to display enthusiasm .
>
> Best
>
> Dave
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joanna Boulter" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 12:38 PM
> Subject: Re: Local Poetic Culture
>
>
>> But David, we all come across stuff like this, and in person too. It's
>> perfectly possible to steer a path between being confrontational about
>> its
>> undoubted awfulness and giving it tacit approval. I usually go for a
> tactful
>> 'not my cup of tea, I'm afraid', which may be a bit of a cop-out but is
>> surely better in a social situation.
>>
>> If you've been engaged to write a review of something, that's a different
>> matter, though I personally do still try for a modicum of tact. In
>> conversation in the local Arts Centre strikes me as not exactly the place
> to
>> wield a critical bludgeon. And, as you've seen, your point did not get
>> across.
>>
>> Of course I know damn well that you are a far better poet than this
> K.Berry.
>> But if he can't see this for himself, he's sure as hell not going to take
> it
>> on your say-so.
>>
>> best joanna
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "David Bircumshaw" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2006 11:45 PM
>> Subject: Local Poetic Culture
>>
>>
>> > Slightly recovered here now, as matters have now risen to the level of
>> > apparent death-threats to me, or at least being 'cut up' or 'bled' or
>> > 'skinned' by persons unknown. I might re-iterate that behind all this
> was
>> > my
>> > lack of veneration for a local poet, who, I must add, was in now way
>> > directly responsible for what developed, and is from all reports quite
>> > appalled by it all, but my original crime, which has now been
>> > compounded
>> > from talking too loud without respect to ruining a drug-dealer's pitch
> and
>> > trade in our dear arts centre, hence the alleged threats (if real)
>> >
>> > but here's an example of the maestro's work, for not liking which
>> > sufficiently I have been hit, threatened, insulted, barred, vilified
>> > and
>> > generally trod upon:
>> >
>> > The Dodo
>> >
>> > It's sad the dodo is extinct
>> > when once the creature winked and blinked
>> > and in a manner so succinct;
>> >
>> > on that far-off Mauritius isle
>> > the sailors treated dodos vile -
>> > were only out to make a pile
>> >
>> > they introduced domestic pets
>> > and caught the dodo in their nets,
>> > on its survival hedged their bets
>> >
>> > and, growing grossly overweight -
>> > its diet got in such a state -
>> > ship's crews ate dodos off a plate!
>> >
>> > With quaint physique it might have filled
>> > the place of some bright bird that trilled
>> > of slimmer, more athletic build
>> >
>> > but that was not to be the case -
>> > odd beaks and feet, and funny face,
>> > it's disappeared without a trace!
>> >
>> > from 'Building New Bridges'
>> >
>> > copyright K. Berry 2000.
>> >
>> >
>> > best
>> >
>> > Dave
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