ESSENTIAL MODERN POETRY FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T READ MUCH

[irisheyes]

1:PHILIP LARKIN.A GENIUS WHO MANAGED BETTER THAN ANY OTHER POET OF HIS GENERATION TO BE WITTY AND MOVING IN THE SAME SENTENCE.

2:TONY HARRISON. IFYOU WANT AN EASY READ, YET STILL CRAVE A TRIP THROUGH EVERY HUMAN EMOTION, READ HIS WORK.

3: JOHN AGARD. THE ONLY PERFORMANCE POET WORTH READING.

THERE'S A START FOR SOME OF YOU. FOR THOSE CONCERNED, I HOPE TO HAVE HELPED.OH, AND STICK AWAY FROM ANDREW MOTION AND CRAIG RAINE. UNLESS YOU WANT REASONS TO HATE POETRY.

[JohnBoddie]

Your shift key appears to be stuck. Please have someone attend to it. The alternative is to be considered someone ignorant of common courtesy since all caps is equated to shouting in on-line communications.

Interesting recommendations, although I might not share your exalted opinion of Larkin.

JB

[irisheyes]

Dear John,

I apologise for only using capitals in my first few posts. Rather than meaning to be at all rude, I was, as you called it, 'ignorant'. Please don't be so judgemental - you can make your point just as quickly and effectively with a little politeness.

Thanks for the info, anyway. And I would like to say that it is the intelligent commentary from people such as yourself that made me eager to sign up in the first place.

Regards,

Irish

[This message has been edited by irisheyes (edited 01-06-2001).]

[irisheyes]

To add to this thread, as re-reading it I find it looks a little like a closed statement from someone (my good self) playing the part of the all-knowing authority on contemporary poetry, does anyone else have any good recommendations? There are a lot of good poets out there failing to sell into four figures, even, and it's hard to find out about them. A good one that springs to mind is Peter Sansom, published by Carcanet.

[clive]

irisheyes,

I agree wholeheartedly with you about Philip Larkin. It was he who more or less started me off writing in the first place, and I feel the moany old bastard breathing down my neck whenever I pick up my pen. Tony Harrison is not bad, but I find him a bit preachy at times. John Agard - well, here we part ways - I can't stick him at all. What I really hate about him is that I think he could write much better poetry if he weren't stuck with that persona he has. I would add Thom Gunn, Carol Ann Duffy and Wendy Cope - especially the latter for making me laugh so much. In fact, forget the others, just add Wendy to your reading list. Also, there's an excellent new volume out on Bloodaxe by someone called Joanna Limburg - read it if you can, she's great.

[irisheyes]

Thanks, clive.

I am already farmiliar with Wendy Cope. I have one of her volumes, which I think is called 'Drinking coffee with Kingsley Amis'. I can see what you mean about Agard to a point, and nearly agree with you. Then I read a poem such as 'Coffee in heaven' and forgive him.

I am very hard to please, as a reader, but would like to take this opportunity to say that I think your poetry is marvellous. Do you mind me asking if you yourself are published? Email me, if you do not wish to broadcast your answer. Or simply don't reply, if you like. I would love to know, though.

And Larkin got me started, too, although I have nothing on this or any other site. I don't feel superior or anything; I simply would rather help/converse with others.

All the very best,

Rory

[clive]

irisheyes,

I've emailed you in answer to your question. For the benefit of others, the correct title of Wendy Cope's first collection is "Making Cocoa For Kingsley Amis". She really is wonderful.