[New-Poetry] Carol Ann Duffy gets the laurels

[Anny Ballardini]

I can understand what you mean, David. thank you for clarifying.

On Sun, May 3, 2009 at 9:45 AM, <david.bircumshaw at ntlworld.com> wrote:

> 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
> > http://www.lulu.com/content/5806078
> > http://www.moriapoetry.com/ebooks.html
> > I Tell You: One must still have chaos in one to give birth to a dancing
> > star!
>
>


-- 
Anny Ballardini
http://annyballardini.blogspot.com/
http://www.fieralingue.it/modules.php?name=poetshome
http://www.lulu.com/content/5806078
http://www.moriapoetry.com/ebooks.html
I Tell You: One must still have chaos in one to give birth to a dancing
star!
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