I realise that the article below is from the Telegraph, but I think it's a bit much. The writer makes a valid point about the use of cliche in her Christmas offering, but since they go on to admit that Duffy's poetry has always been about everyday language rather than 'poesy' - it's a debatable one.
That's my opinion, what do you think?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/6754189/The-not-a-lot-of-laughs...
Ewan | December 9, 2009 - 11:33
If you want to read the poem itself it's here...
http://www.radiotimes.com/content/features/carol-ann-duffy-the-twelve-da...
FTSE100 | December 9, 2009 - 12:47
Carol Ann Duffy
Gets quite huffy
If you suggest
Her poems are stuffy
All I can say is, she's a better poet than I am, but that's not hard.
Probably fair comment that it isn't one of her best, but still pretty good. I'd give her a cherry.
Ewan | December 9, 2009 - 12:50
Ho ho ho! I did read a quotation from her (must source that or no-one will take me seriously LOL) wherein she said that she did not believe poetry could be written to order. The quote - I believe - was a direct reference to Poets Laureate. Maybe her heart's not in it.
lenchenelf | December 9, 2009 - 18:55
I can imagine it as a spoken word poem, her measured voice as a relentless pounding shellfire. Perhaps that's what she intended? That's what we get from rolling news.
The Telegraph piece seems to bemoan a lack of 'and finally' expected in the best tradition of News broadcasts.
'essentially a review of the year without the jolly bits, like winning The Ashes'
Hmnn!
Dendrite | December 10, 2009 - 01:02
These 'pronouncements on the war in Afghanistan, climate change, corrupt MPs and the parlous state of modern Britain,' are setup in a Christmas poem motif with an over-obvious intent to shock. Therefore it doesn't, and it's kind of a shame, I think the poem is a load of crap, a laundry list of things wrong that goes nowhere below the surface, offering no cause or humor or insight or hope or anything much but a sly rant, which is lazy and almost always easy (I know this fer sure). I think many here do much better work and I'm disappointed to see such a miserable one-dimensional twiddle of thumbs from Britain’s poet Poet Laureateress. Who the hell picked her out? Wait.. don't tell me... The Academy! I think Ms. Duffy should go live under a bridge for one year with the homeless then try again on the 2010 Christmas poem.
call the tune
twiddle their thumbs
stopped in its tracks
strike a match
strike a bargain
wings of justice
down the line
are you fucking kidding? these are something worse than cliché
Ewan | December 10, 2009 - 11:51
No, I'm not kidding. I don't think it's really terrible, just not so much better than many things on here. As I said, perhaps her heart's not in it.
barely black francis | December 10, 2009 - 12:59
There is an alternative http://tinyurl.com/yhquzy5
Ewan | December 11, 2009 - 11:21
If only they'd known!
Dendrite | December 12, 2009 - 13:06
Maybe invite him to post here? I don't see too many writing collections on facebook. I wonder what the net difference/effect is of posting on a personal blog or wall or website vs. a community site.
wandelaar | December 24, 2009 - 21:54
This is not my style!