I thought I’d share this with you. Keith Sagar, a Ted Hughes critic and writer, wrote the following:
“The most important role for the poet is to challenge the false myths we all live by and offer true myths which involve the inward journey and the painful acquisition of self-knowledge, which illuminate and purge the dark interior, and which help us to discover a proper knowledge of the sacred wholeness of Nature, and a proper alignment of our behaviour within her laws.”
(The Laughter of Foxes, A Study of Ted Hughes, Keith Sagar, Liverpool University Press 2006, p3)
No doubt you each have something similar that is important to you. Why not share yours here.
‘Often it’s those uncertain,nebulous things that have no other reality that compel the poet to write”to give to airy nothing,” as Shakespeare says, “A local habitation and a name.” ‘ from John Drury ‘Creating Poetry’ page 31
I think we transition a complexity of life which creates billions of circumstances for each and every one of us, which lead us down experience road, in so many ways. It’s exciting to read the thought processes of other poet’s, although I feel guilty I’m always so busy, I never seem to have the time to concentrate enough. The acquisition of knowledge can bring joy, for others none. The personality is the most incredible focal point of every human being, and the difference between us,impossible to fathom, but exciting to expose. This exercise through Border poets, is bringing out a lot of inner thought, and exposes things we either haven’t read, or ever thought about – and that can only be good.
Busy ness. The plague we have all suffered from or still do. You have touched on something that the powers that be would like to eradicate, but can’t and never should – we are all different. Each of us is an individual and, for me at least, that is what poetry celebrates. If the workshops etc are helping you to find your inner monkey, then that is a great thing. Go with it David, but don’t lose sight of the bread making machine. On Monday I showed you a copy of an anthology I put together at a recent Arvon course and you asked me why I had done this – I said I was mad (true), but the real reason was a love of what Arvon courses can achieve. If you can find six hundred quid (or thereabouts) and a week and the will to indulge yourself in a world you can’t imagine exists, then go on an Arvon course. Look here: The Arvon Foundation. I’ve been on five, Robbie’s been on several, and Martin the same. Gill has been on some I imagine. Some have been to Ty Newydd, the Welsh equivalent. You can download a copy of the anthology here. Just click on the download link.
I endorse what Keith says, a residential course is invaluable. Not only do you get the benefit of two fine tutors but you also get to live, eat, breathe poetry with a dozen or so likeminded students from whom you can glean much.
Arvon is expensive, about £680 these days. Ty Newydd is at least a hundred pounds cheaper: http://www.tynewydd.org. But bursaries are available.