Dear BP,
1) Surely to speak in terms of a "personal canon" is to speak a
contradiction in terms.
2) Also, pluralism and relativism are not the same thing. So to admit an
ever proliferating variety of possible routes is not to abandon value, even
absolute value.
3) Keston, nothing is less important in the modern world than the State.
A woodlouse in the path is more important than the State and ten times more
important than the Nation. All that structuralist twisting of arms behind
backs per the priority of power when it is large, is finished. Like Andrew
Duncan for instance. The function of the State is the efficient
distribution of cornflakes and presentation of awards for jumping fences.
It's nothing to do with culture or race or ethics. If the State would
realise that we wouldn't have that fucking war going on in Europe at
present. In fact the very importance of that war might be to protect us
from the suprematist version of the State.
We can't just say "advertising" as if we have dealt the death-blow to a
poetry of enjoyment. In principle at any rate, advertising is necessary.
Your diatribe is dangerously coercive. It smacks of Maoism, it smacks of
Inquisition. Like Ben Watson for instance. Read Montesqueue or somebody
(on religion).
Poetry is created in the space which evades politics.
The function of Lee Harwood's poetry in the State, and of any decently
authentic poetry, is to say (in highly transferred terms) "State, bugger
you." This will change things.
Keep thrashing about though, it clears the air of dilettante
pleasure-taking wonderfully.
/PR
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