Perhaps I should have written "not so well known internationally any more"
(though I stand open to correction here, being not so conversant with all
the trends of the moment) and "in the Anglo-American poetry world Derek
Walcott..." When I first started exploring modern poetry Brathwaite was an
important figure - then the wind blew in the other direction and Walcott
became more famous. Though confusingly the Chadwyck-Healey 20th Century
English poetry CD-Rom only includes Brathwaite. So it goes, probably
something to do with licensing fees....I personally think poetry is more
like Hegel's burrowing mole of revolution and that - like great music - it
takes time to reach those who become ready for it and unconsciously look for
it. The DOA theory is erroneous because that vast monster, language, takes
its time to ingest and regurgitate. But as Hal says, a poem only needs one
reader. In each case that is "me".
mj
Du siehst mein Sohn, zum Raum wird hier die Zeit. - Gurnemanz
----- Original Message -----
From: Martin Walker
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:13 AM
Subject: Re: "Previously unpublished"
Bra(i)thwaite, Stephen? Methinks you got your West Indians mixed up ;-).
Edward Kamau B. is as you say not so well known, but in the poetry world
Derek Walcott has been much read and fêted. And has poetry ever - at least
since bardic times - been much more than a diversion of the clerisy &
purveyors of high-class entertainment to the ruling caste, he asked
wickedly?
mj
Du siehst mein Sohn, zum Raum wird hier die Zeit. - Gurnemanz
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Vincent
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 3:06 AM
Subject: Re: "Previously unpublished"
I been thinking - and maybe others have, as well - that a poem does not
exist in any of the public spheres (online, print, etc.) until it 'breeds' a
review and/or critical response in the eye/ear in a similar or entirely
separate public channel (online,print, etc.) And something continues to grow
from there.
I am thinking that most poetry, no matter how well or diligently written
has become absolutely frivolous. Frivolous because it has no visible, or
useful function in the culture(s). It's just dead on arrival! The mechanisms
for making it so appear entirely devoid of vitality.
At best Hermes is talking to Hermes.
Until such public means (call and response) are constructed (again), no
matter our skills and muse fidelities, in terms of any longer being a big
public animal, we be sweeping salt. (i.e., there is much work to be done,
and why the weekly poetry snap here can be and is valuable).
Whatever his graces, flaws, etc. I suspect Padel was able for a bit to
play her ruse on Braithwaite and make it persuasive was because not many in
this world had read his poetry. Where issues of sexual harassment are - and
rightly so - required literacy and training in multiple (academic,
corporate, etc.) environments. And consequently publicly persuasive and, for
a time, ruled this discussion
On this this joyous note!
Stephen V
http://stephenvincent.net/blog/
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