[New-Poetry] Carol Ann Duffy gets the laurels

Sun May 3 01:54:34 EDT 2009

Duffy grew up in the industrial English Midlands in the 1950s and 60s ( as I did too) and the poem is really a set of ready-wrapped images of such a childhood. 
I've been asking myself whether I'm being too hard on it because I recognise the appeal of regresive emotional comforters. But I don't think I am: I recognise its insiduous appeal.
I think the train's chanting is Latin because it is a steam engine i.e outmoded and somewhat remote like the sound of monks on a recording. The image is like the sound effects in Inspector Morse: snazzy tat.

David Bircumshaw
Website: http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bob Grumman 
  To: NewPoetry: Contemporary Poetry News &amp;Views 
  Sent: Sunday, May 03, 2009 1:40 AM
  Subject: Re: [New-Poetry] Carol Ann Duffy gets the laurels

  David Bircumshaw wrote: 
    I'd forgotten about 'Prayer' - it's a very effective piece of kitsch, rhythmically as well as in its projections of blurry sentiment. Note I do say 'effective' . I don't know how much the shipping forecast at the end conveys to US readers 

  I was wondering about that.  Wuzzit mean?  (I thought the poem okay but nothing special.)

  --Bob

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