I think this was a pretty useful note/less beating-around more slash and
burn. Needs a little time to get thorough response, but a few remarks
can be stretched to suggest themselves: 1. Unordisengagement with current
critical environments for poetry, whilst silly and real
myth-of-layman-virtue stuff, is perhaps due in part to the seeming absence
of interesting -and relevant- criticism. Ok, you say Perelman's new book.
Haven't seen it, yet. Personally I've always found LANGUAGE criticism, by
which I mean not -of- but -by-, mostly mere ballocks. I'm by no means
wholly acquainted, not at all. But what I've read strikes me like a
silk glove. Seems very consciously organised in anticipation of a grand
future of relevance, to the detriment of its self scrutiny and yes yes
where are the examples to support its claims, the usual. As for French
crits, or the tail ends of decontm, they are surely a good few furlongs
from hence. England has, by and large and at the academies at least, a
firmly shut gob, when breathing over such issues though it wouldn't regard
them as such. In all of this, I'm sure I'm missing several individuals -
this is just my own impression, my own hacked route so far. O, and I've
seen little attention to anything innovative here, at Cambridge II (US).
Where are the relevant criticisms? I think, along (I think) with Tim,
that this list could itself generate some more critical debate, but would
perhaps in that case demand more of it's members' lives than they can
spare; notwithstanding, how about some articles on recent output? Some
-critical- articles (so refreshing to hear Tim's Mottram, if though
not necessarily only because so frank) on new poetry, that of members of
the list or of anyone else? Wilkinson's Sarn Helen (which I'm still
lacking, goddamit, over here) drew out a few mutterings, but really
nothing. Thanks to Peter Larkin for getting a ball rolling. But:
considering how long he was writing the damn thing, it's been a slim
reaction indeed. Of course, as always, naturally. But someone here
(here?) could react publically. SO FEW books get reviewed, which is not
to say they aren't considered, but IS to say that no-one puts their hand
up. Has anyone else read Sarn Helen? Any thoughts? I'm especially
interested to see it, I fancy I can see a development in W's work
indicative of the desire to re-launch Longer poems, in English (an
EXTREMELY complex and considerable issue - anyone?), in a different manner
to Oliver for example. The Speaking Twins is maybe a crucial step in this
attempt. Anyone have a reaction to For The Monogram? Or expect in
themselves a significantly delayed reaction? Or to anything else?
k (has the game started yet? the football?)
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