The State Of English Poetry

[poliphilo]

This arises out of a discussion about English poetry I've been having with veronica_milvus .

It's my belief that we're living in an age of minor poetry. These occur every so often.  Usually because a major poet has been active in the previous generation and said everything that needs to be said.
 
Great poets are incredibly rare.  They're the ones that change the language and alter the sensibility of those who speak and write it.  English literature has had 9 of them. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth, Keats, Browning, Yeats and Eliot. (Please argue with me over that choice of names). 

The first half of the 20th century was an age of great poetry. Not only did it possess the two great poets- Yeats and Eliot- but also a host of lesser poets- some of them very nearly great. It's not surprising then that the succeeding age- our age- should be so barren. We're still recovering from the impact.

Comments

Re: From major to minor

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, all those guys come under the heading "minor"- but they're only minor in comparison with the likes of Shakespeare and Milton.

Most of the poetry written in every generation is rubbish. Indeed, a lot of the poetry written by some of the major poets is rubbish. Wordsworth published reams and reams of very dull stuff.

I don't despair of todays's poetry scene. There are good poets around, just no major ones that I can see- and the bad ones will- as always- be forgotten.

I'm not sure "free verse" isn't a contradiction in terms. Most verse that passes for free turns out to have some sort of structure or form or rythm sustaining it.

Re: From major to minor

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Of course - who isn't minor in comparison to Shakey! I agree with you that a lot of 'free verse' (and usually the best) does have structure, some quite rigid. Then, it can also depend on the reader and their knowledge of poetry - I once heard Dylan Thomas' 'Resusal To Mourn The Death Of A Child, By Fire, In London' as free verse! It has as much structure as his revered villanelle.

Re: From major to minor

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've just re-read the Thomas. Fine poem. And yes, it has a very strong, though unasserted structure. Why, it even has rhymes!

Dylan

[brttvns.livejournal.com]

Have you heard him read it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B2c4b23r3k

and one of my favourites
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIoXV-HXobo

Unfortunately these are not taken from his BBC readings, they are superior.