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This Just In

Avid readers of Eyewear will recall that last Saturday brought some issues with The Guardian's coverage of poetry in Britain. This Saturday, the Oxford-based poet, Alan Buckley (who will be reading for the Oxfam series this Autumn), replies, with a published letter.

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Unknown said…
One thing for sure, the debate about whether poetry is alive or dead will always be alive!

It all makes for interesting reading and it's certainly good to hear it being given a wider airing here.

I can't help but think when I hear persons such as Martin Amis declaring the death of poetry that we're in for another round of evaluation, re-evalution and general head-nodding and shaking. I'm sure every generation does this.

Another post you wrote, I think about C. Day Lewis, struck home with me when I picked up an anthology compiled around the early part of the 20thc. Most of the poets I had never heard of, and the overwhelming style of the book leaned towards the safe styling of the 19thc. Ah, I thought, here is another editor content to sit with the status quo, rather than challenge it.

Anyhoo, this wee comments box was never designed to contain 'thoughts on what makes poetry poetry,' but it is nice to be provoked.
Sat Jun 16, 05:30:00 pm 2007
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