Well, if Don Paterson the poet can be separated from the writer of that belligerent and oddly vague introduction to New British Poetry for a moment, I consider his personal taste on this matter fair enough and not at all the legacy of Conquest (who might only have approved of Frost). I haven’t followed the series but, ‘safe’ or not – true, they all fall within a particular band – if it’s what he ‘wishes he’d written’, he doesn’t have to pretend to be someone else.

Best,

Jamie

 

From: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">Peter Riley

Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2017 1:31 PM

To: [log in to unmask]" href="mailto:[log in to unmask]" target="_blank">[log in to unmask]AC.UK

Subject: Re: Larkin, Heaney, listpeak

 

 

On 24 Sep 2017, at 10:58 am, [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

 

Each evening this week on Radio 3, Don Paterson can be heard “reflecting” on “Five Poems I Wish I’d Written.” They are by Seamus  Heaney, Elisabeth Bishop, Michael Donaghy, Sylvia Plath and Robert Frost. This is the legacy of Conquest, the obstinacy of staying on safe ground.  Even the big-poetry-prize scene is generous and encouraging compared with this, in spite of all the show-biz.

 

 

;pr