Dear Mark

Thanks for your interesting and reasoned message.

I suppose a lot of what you say rests on how we choose to define a poet and
a poem, and on whether it is possible to make meaningful assertions about
unrealised potential in people. I don't disagree with you - except that you
have broadened the definitions I had in mind when I wrote my earlier reply.
No doubt it is better to *believe* in the potential of others than not to,
even if it were proved that not everyone is able to achieve equally (and how
we define "achieve" is of course a whole other discussion...).

Kind regards

Paul

-----Original Message-----

I think I understand. I must say that my own experience leads me to disagree
with you. I don't think I've met anyone (apart from maybe my last MP and
some
Regional Arts Board Literature officers) who was utterly incapable of
writing a
poem. Maybe not a 'good' poem, but that's not what's at issue.

I have seen this in action in many settings: e.g. schools, where children of
all
types, disabilities, academic and intellectual abilities, etc have produced
poems. It sounds hyperbolic but I have seen children classified as elective
mutes stand up and read their poems out loud. Of course, this potential for
poetry required some drawing out, and guidance and encouragement, but that
does
not mean it is not there.

In case we put this down to some quality of youth I have also seen the same
thing happen in groups of prisoners with only the most basic education and
an
ingrained aversion to writing - but given the approriate context (i.e.
theirs
not mine) they all produced writing which surprised themselves and me and
which
could definitely be called poetry. And an enormous number of prisoners write
poetry (usually rhymed, greetings card style verse) whilst inside, though
they
wouldn't dream of it 'on the out'.

If the statement was 'the potential for good poetry is within all' I might
take
issue with it as wishful thinking, on the basis of evidence/experience. And
it's
clear that not everyone wants to write poetry, nor should they. But I'd like
to
hear of evidence that we don't all have the potential to make poetry of some
kind at some level .

best,

Mark





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