[New-Poetry] Carol Ann Duffy gets the laurels

[david.bircumshaw at ntlworld.com]

I agree with you that the poem is emotional, Anny, but I fear it's something of an emotional trap.

Non-British readers probably wouldn't realise this about the Shipping Forecast which the last lines quote but in the 1950s and early 60s the BBC channel on which it is broadcast , nowadays BBC Radio 4, was then called 'the Home Service'. It was one of only three channels. People of Duffy's (or my) generation were among the last to grow up with radio as the main live intrusion of the big world outside and the litanical like recital of Shipping areas early in the morning bundles a whole set of fixed stereotyped responses. 
Prayer comes harder than that (other than the Lord's Prayer, which is a special case)

best

dave 


--
David Bircumshaw

http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk

---- Anny Ballardini <anny.ballardini at gmail.com> wrote: 
> Sorry to disagree with those who criticize this poem in a negative way. I
> find it quite emotional, deep, and having a life of its own. English poetry
> is studded by "prayers" as much as Italian "poetry" and poetry in general
> and since the very beginning, see the opening salute to the Muses. One of
> the fundamental prerequisites of a poet is humility. It is right from the
> beginning that you can separate the good from the bad.
> 
> On Sun, May 3, 2009 at 7:54 AM, David Bircumshaw <
> david.bircumshaw at ntlworld.com> wrote:
> 
> >  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 <bobgrumman at nut-n-but.net>
> > *To:* NewPoetry: Contemporary Poetry News &amp;Views<new-poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu>
> > *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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> 
> 
> -- 
> Anny Ballardini
> http://annyballardini.blogspot.com/
> http://www.fieralingue.it/modules.php?name=poetshome
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> I Tell You: One must still have chaos in one to give birth to a dancing
> star!