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Well, David, I've found the opposite. When I ended up unemployed at 45, I went into a deep depression and ended up catatonic in the corner of my lounge room. Then I dusted myself off and got up and worked in shit jobs until I ended up teaching at unis in this town & elsewhere. But the trauma and the time to ponder lead to the writing of my first 'major' collection, Mother Waits For Father Late (FACP, 1992). I was merely a punster and a word trickster before that: the time and the trauma lead me into deeper content. I think it may be the same with grant time: no activity for awhile, a mild panic sets in, then the push for poetic works brings thoughts to the surface that wouldn't have been there in work time, writing exhausted after hours. But we are all different - thank god. Maybe a grant would silence you; maybe it would inspire you. Wheelbarrows always work in the same way, but poets never. Andrew (who presently can't get two words to marry up! but there you go) 2009/4/24 Alison Croggon <[log in to unmask]> > Corrupting of what? Just out of curiosity... > > xA > > On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM, David Bircumshaw > <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Really? > > Anyhow I was thinking of corrupting in a wider sense. > > > > 2009/4/24 Patrick McManus <[log in to unmask]> > > > >> David B > >> I am prepared to risk being corrupted by a grant gift donation bursury > >> bequest stipend subsidy boon honorarium etceven backhanders > >> Of course I do get a pension gawd bless em! > >> P the bravest brave brave > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > On > >> Behalf Of David Bircumshaw > >> Sent: 24 April 2009 06:54 > >> To: [log in to unmask] > >> Subject: Re: More poems from the challenge > >> > >> I have to say, and this isn't directed specifically at Heather, that > I've > >> come to feel that grants in poetry have in many respects a corrupting > >> effect, certainly when it's a matter of grants for writing poetry (where > >> state money might be of use is in marketing and distribution and > printing, > >> that is to say to publishers) > >> I don't work these days, because of disability, but I know I wrote more, > >> and > >> better, when I was working full-time than now. > >> > >> 2009/4/24 andrew burke <[log in to unmask]> > >> > >> > I also congratulate you, Heather, on your arts council grant. That's > >> > terrific! Andrew > >> > > >> > 2009/4/24 Douglas Barbour <[log in to unmask]> > >> > > >> > > Congratulations on the grant, heather. > >> > > > >> > > I have followed your many-sided takes day by day, & certainly the > >> > > discipline of it has been rewarding for you. > >> > > > >> > > Doug > >> > > On 23-Apr-09, at 9:31 AM, Heather Taylor wrote: > >> > > > >> > > Here's a couple new poems for you as part of the challenge - I also > >> just > >> > >> got > >> > >> an Arts Council grant to write my new collection! Hoorah! I may > post > >> a > >> > >> few > >> > >> pieces up here as I work on it for people's advice... > >> > >> > >> > > > >> > > Douglas Barbour > >> > > [log in to unmask] > >> > > > >> > > http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/<http://www.ualberta.ca/%7Edbarbour/>< > http://www.ualberta.ca/%7Edbarbour/ > >> > > >> > > > >> > > Latest books: > >> > > Continuations (with Sheila E Murphy) > >> > > http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=664 > >> > > Wednesdays' > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> > http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-from-aboveground-press_10.h > >> tml > >> > > > >> > > There's the wind and the rain > >> > > And the mercy of the fallen > >> > > Who say they have no claim to know what's right > >> > > Dar Williams > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > -- > >> > Andrew > >> > http://hispirits.blogspot.com/ > >> > > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> David Bircumshaw > >> Website and A Chide's Alphabet > >> http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk > >> The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html > >> Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk > >> No virus found in this incoming message. > >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > >> Version: 8.5.285 / Virus Database: 270.12.3/2076 - Release Date: > 04/23/09 > >> 06:30:00 > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > David Bircumshaw > > Website and A Chide's Alphabet > > http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk > > The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html > > Leicester Poetry Society: http://www.poetryleicester.co.uk > > > > > > -- > Editor, Masthead: http://www.masthead.net.au > Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com > Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com > -- Andrew http://hispirits.blogspot.com/