in response to and support of Nick Kearney
<<I agree with the idea of questioning the term _great poet_, it does not
seem
to illuminate much. That said, I would be interested in hearing more about
what you feel is especially mediocre about Hughes poetry. I was introduced
to poetry through Hughes at school and for a long time thought it was all
wonderful. Only a little of his work still excites me now, I find most of
the mythological and shamanistic stuff interesting but forced, though there
are some effective individual poems, particularly in Cave Birds, and I feel
he became Poet Lariat in spirit long before they asked him. As for his
reading, I have heard little, but he seems to me to have the belief (which
seems common among the _grand old men_) that poetry should be read as
expressionlessly as possible.
what think you?>>
I think you say it for me... First time I read Hughes stuff I was knocked
out by it but I was very young and i was also quite excited by my first
safeways hazelnut yoghurt... he has/had a good eye - individual phrases
stay with me and pop up though not always relevantly - at the beginning of
black spring miller has a long spiel about childhood memories being
recalled spontaneously in the middle of unrelated adult activities and i
think it's often the same with bits of poetry and music. Mind you that
doesn't necessarily mean they are any good. I spent a couple of days last
week with a horrible 60s advertising jingle twining round my memory like
bindweed.... I too think a lot of Hughes mythic shaman stuff is forced -
and forcing has an effect on flavour -and I find it interesting that he
wants to force such stuff but I do not find the material itself interesting
I do like Poet Lariat - pity we arent talking about Dorn
i heard him read full of expression - years ago now - if by expression one
is prepared to mean sudden and inexplicable stress - think of William
Shatner with Hughes accent
Lawrence Upton
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