Dear Chris an' List,
Am wary of tracing Whitman to Greek precedent. The same has been
tried for G.M.Hopkins sprung-rhythm but anyone alive at his time
could hardly have been unaware of the upsurge of academic interest in
Anglo-Saxon (Old English) verse.
Yes, warning on 'trad format equals trad culture' appreciated. In
fact, I heartily welcome Peter Howard's further emendation - that
poetry is self-defining or self-confirming, that is, is whatever we
expect to find.
Including fabric softener? No matter...
May I bring to your attention the brand new anthol 'Loose Watch' from
Invisible Books? This is based on the mag 'Lost and Found Times'
started in 1975 in Colombus, Ohio. The variety, including variety of
lay-out and combination of prose, verse and visual material is
immediately attractive, and also I found much worthwhile to settle
and read through. But (and this is where it links in with poetic form
and that), there almost seemed an assumption that poetry equals (i)
anything to do with male sexuality (ii) anything surreal. Is this
some valid folk formula from 'marginalised cultural workers', or a
sort of late essence of transfigured Beat and a bit Krazy Kat? But
taking the volume as a historical statement, it seems a needed and
effective sample of the First World. Including even short pieces by
Dick Higgins and Rob. Kostelanetz. ISBN 0 9521256 8 4.
tara
Bill
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