This is just to report three tremendous readings in Exeter of all places last night
Ken Edwards reading his work in usual nervy manner, achieved and complex work
not to do with local scenes but connecting what is happening well beyond the parish.
Ken seems to be articulating a sense of European migrant connection with Spain and
Gibraltar, with Moorish civilisation. Passionate writing, a very impressive reading. His
Preface to Good Science works each time, followed through so well. The Eight plus Six
work is very inventive from what I've heard so far.
David Miller's reading full of interiors with figures, explicitly working over method
in art and poetry, linking that with emotional life, strange atmospheres. He is always reaching
for
some grasp of some trace of the spiritual in his work. The whole body of it is impressive
and consistent in its ambition to reach beyond the literary, especially when he seems to be
speaking only about language. Have you seen the list of publications in the back of collected
poems?
Alan Halsey was an absolute slayer. Wonderful recent work full of dense sound patterns
and verbal wit. No one faster and I don't mean in pronouncing words. "My ex-wife zed" or
was it ? I loved his reading of the piece Coherent Light and some pieces that had come from
collaboration with Karen Mac Cormack. Pieces from the collaborative book with Anwn and
Corcoran & Selerie. It was very FUNNY and we all put up with these bookish diversions
and then hard and beautiful poetry itself. I can't really make out the Robin Hood stuff -- I
mean I get it but it doesn't fire me up in the same way.
Exeter!
TL
___________________________
Dr Tony Lopez
Reader in Poetry
University of Plymouth
Faculty of Arts & Education
Douglas Avenue
Exmouth
EX8 2AT
UK
tel: 1395 255418
fax: 1395 264196
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