'that element are more like to be prevalent in songs' should be 'an element
more likely to be prevalent in songs'
-----Original Message-----
From: Jamie McKendrick
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2016 6:12 PM
To: British & Irish poets
Subject: Re: Britain vs. U.S. Poetry war
I think you've misunderstood at least a part of what I was saying, David.
It's not a question for me of anything being 'sonically pleasing'. Though
that can be an element in poetry - 'melopoeia' is what Pound calls it -
that
element are more like to be prevalent in songs. So 'ugly' is fine by me.
'Much of Pound' is very beautifully cadenced, though there are tracts in The
Cantos, I'd have to agree, where his ear deserts him, usually under the
pressure of giving information on economics. There I'm not sure that rhythm
would much help anyway, as in poetry it's not a stand-alone feature.
I don't think my remarks are going to withstand much philosophical
scrutiny. Though the source of the word has to do with 'letters', with the
written, of course the category of literature can be as elastic as you
please. I was really arguing for a preference. Dylan's songs can of course
be regarded as poems, and as such it's even possible many people will still
love them. I have the highest regard for him as a singer/songwriter - his
lyrics are way more interesting than most of the tribe - but as a poet I
don't rate him that highly. Hence my demurral at the award.
Jamie
-----Original Message-----
From: David Lace
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2016 5:34 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Britain vs. U.S. Poetry war
But this is only valid if you view poetry as necessarily having to be
pleasing sonically (inwardly or outwardly). Many poems are “ugly”. Much of
Pound for instance. And much experimental poetry that is published is
sonically poor. Yet it is still called literature—I assume.
------------------Original Message------------
Jamie McKendrick wrote:
With Dylan, though, sure, there are many good lines "and Abe said to God you
must be puttin me on") without his voice, and as poems, I think they don't
read that well.
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