I've been getting some eye-opening comments, from readers like Paul Sutton, who find Eyewear inane. Perhaps. But another way to read it is as an ephemeral grab-bag of posts featuring poetry reviews, pop culture, and random musings, that, every so often, takes risks, and does good work. I agree - some of the posts are blog-worthy only (it is a blog). However, there are numerous featured poets, and reviewers, who share their work on here as well. I admit to having fun, sometimes, by being banal. Like everyone else, I live in a media-saturated world, of scandalous trials, dead movie stars, and James Bond. Between the inanity, I hope, readers can squint enough to catch a glimmer, if even rarely, of more valid, and valuable work. Not all of it self-directed. Though, as Mr. Sutton et al. should be aware, almost all writers now keep blogs, or web sites, where they inform readers of their doing - with the decline of marketing budgets, and the rise of small presses, few writers can afford the luxury of letting their publisher get word of their work out there. It's naive to think otherwise. As for "fame". You don't write poetry to make money or become famous.
A poem for my mother, July 15 When she was dying And I was in a different country I dreamt I was there with her Flying over the ocean very quickly, And arriving in the room like a dream And I was a dream, but the meaning was more Than a dream has – it was a moving over time And land, over water, to get love across Fast enough, to be there, before she died, To lean over the small, huddled figure, In the dark, and without bothering her Even with apologies, and be a kiss in the air, A dream of a kiss, or even less, the thought of one, And when I woke, none of this had happened, She was still far distant, and we had not spoken.
Comments
I couldn't agree more. If your blog gets 3000 page views per day on average, there must be an awful lot of 'inane' people out there. Although your posts are of varying quality (how could they not be?) you have always struck me as someone with their index finger right on the pulse of contemporary British poetry. Indeed, I think the fact that you grew up in Canada only enhances your capacity to view the British poetry scene in an objective and impartial light.
Best wishes from Simon
I have no problem at all with poets (or anyone else) publicizing forthcoming activities. However, I feel a line has been crossed when a poet conducts a feud with an editor who has omitted him from an anthology, or when a poet periodically threatens to close down his blog unless people start paying attention. And don't deny that you're desperate to be invited to pontificate on "Newsnight Review". How paltry, to aspire to the crown of that Prince of Mediocrity, Mark Lawson.
This from Roddy Lumsden, snotty Facebooker and professional blog comment sniper? Pot, kettle, and black!