tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29676463.post1073739913471088680..comments2024-03-28T19:17:01.550+13:00Comments on The Imaginary Museum: Contemporary NZ Poets by ThemeDr Jack Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01805945600952222957noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29676463.post-42324548097326253362007-07-19T00:11:00.000+12:002007-07-19T00:11:00.000+12:00This analysis by theme is very interesting - and ...This analysis by theme is very interesting - and the best of course somehow concentrate many if not all these themes.<BR/><BR/>The interrelationship of these aspects or categories is interesting - even if related by the fact the poems are by the same poet.<BR/><BR/>What are the themes of my poems Jack? I exclude Hospital ... <BR/><BR/>I frequently wonder what the hell I was ever writing about. And these days wonder whether it is worth writing at all as I seem to have said it all but what it is I have said I am not sure!!<BR/><BR/>[BTW where are all the comments form all these aspiring poets or fellow academics etc Jack - you need to do more publicity work! I am not being (too) ironical - or will your Blog evolve? -it is incredible the exposure Silliman got or gets - of course he's been around for a long time and used to tell everyone everywhere on various poetic lists what and when he was posting. Which makes sense - one wants to be read.] <BR/><BR/>The Poetics List at Buffalo (run by the evil Bernstein! not Goldstein either of ASB or 1984!!) I was on from which I am now persona non grata: even had a big debate about the value of "blogging". (Laugh out loud -what else is left us?) It's American so one doesn't feel too bad about being disliked by person's from that country.)<BR/><BR/>Which makes me think perhaps you need to get more controversial Jack! Start attacking Bernstein (the High Priest of Langpoism) or someone like Ron Silliman or Lyn Heijinian and link him (them) with a plot to invade Iran - something like that, whatever as the Yanks say...Whatever gets publicity! Drop some names into the broth!!Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272507198753290435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29676463.post-57633435147243312142007-07-18T23:49:00.000+12:002007-07-18T23:49:00.000+12:00There seem very interesting poets there - I have b...There seem very interesting poets there - I have been reading some work by Geoff Cochrane (who is featured) - a great talent - some brilliant poems - I remembered him, or the cover of his book - as when I was in Ron Riddell's bookshop (The Dead Poets Book Shop) we had masses of NZ poetry and one of the books there - always unsold sadly - was one by him with beautiful cover called "Kandinsky's Mirror" which I acquired, basically by way of payment for working there... <BR/><BR/>To prove the capacity of poetry - last night when I was ill with a cough and troubled and couldn't sleep I was reading from that book.<BR/><BR/>I also read right through my own poetry book, to myself, aloud. <BR/><BR/>I ommitted the "Hospital" sequence. <BR/><BR/>The therapeutic and psychic value of reading even one's own work aloud (good or bad, however defined) cannot be underestimated - whatever the "level" one's writing is. The reading-aloud experience is of a positive psychological value - even if one very much realises (or is concerned by) one's (felt or other) limitations - such a reading - can be of pride or pleasure and solace to whoever reads there own work.<BR/><BR/>This may not be the "purpose" of art but it is certainly a value or use of or for it.<BR/><BR/>I also enjoyed the original poets book of those reading aloud.<BR/><BR/>I mean the first book with Fairburn and others. I borrowed it from the library: but I should buy one as - although Mason (who I used to read over and over as teenager so I know most of his poems almost by heart) - in my view murders his own work* - Fairburn's poem is, and is read, beautfully and, for example, David Mitchell is eerily exquisite and charged but controlled with his reading of his My Lai Poem. <BR/><BR/>I kept coming back to his reading of that. <BR/><BR/>But there are many other great readings in that collection which Jack et al assembled. I would say the new one will be as useful and a great addition to our heritage and our art.<BR/><BR/>* But it is still great in all cases to hear how these writers actually sound.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10272507198753290435noreply@blogger.com