A good article in The Spectator regarding why you should write poetry. As the author says, even if you don’t intend to publish the act of writing can furnish great pleasure. I also like the idea of composing poetry whilst comfortably ensconced in a country pub. Not that I ever visit pubs you understand …
For the article please go to https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-you-should-write-poetry/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/entertainment/article/best-poets/
An interesting list. However, whilst I think such articles can spark interest in poetry and perhaps encourage those who have not yet come to love the art form to do so, any such list is just the opinion of the author. I, personally am surprised that Keats does not get a mention. His fine poems on autumn and his ode to a nightingale surely make him worthy of inclusion in such a list.
I have stood
And walked
Through the wood
And thought
On nymphs who bring delight
In woods
To passersby such as I.
I have sought for Aphrodite
Amidst the flowering tree
And have heard the birds
Sing in hopeful spring.
But now Autumn has come
And no Aphrodite
Sings to me.
In this temple, open to the air,
I feel you everywhere.
These Doric Columns speak of our yesterday.
But you will stay
When I and they
Are but clay.
These ancient Yew
And Redwood trees
Have heard wind sing
Over long centuries.
But your cold blast
Will outlast the Yew.
—
This poem stems from a visit to the temple of Aeolus in Kew Gardens with my friend Brian on 29 September 2023. You can find out a little about the temple here, https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-in-the-gardens/woodland-garden-and-temple-of-aeolus.
An interesting and thought provoking article, https://engelsbergideas.com/essays/can-epic-poetry-revive-history/.
I recently posted about my experience of using Chat GPT to create poetry, https://kmorrispoet.com/2023/02/13/what-happened-when-i-entered-one-of-my-poems-into-chat-gpt/. In that post I discussed the results of entering my poem Midnight into Chat GPT and how the AI continued my poem (which was originally published several years ago).
This morning I came across this article, https://ai.plainenglish.io/writers-dont-fear-chatgpt-81e1128b11c1
, in which the author argues that writers should not fear AI. Whilst I am sure that Chat GPT (and other AIS) will improve over time, I agree with the author’s view of the matter.
“In around 1440 AD, a goldsmith called Johannes Gutenberg began assembling the apparatus that would eventually become known as the first Western printing press. Thirty years later, this invention had transformed Europe, spiritually, economically and politically. In this episode of Worldview Adam Boulton is joined by Professor Alexander Lee and Professor Emma Smith to chart the history of the book, from its revolutionary beginnings to the present day.”
This is a fascinating podcast. Apart from the interesting historical background, I was struck by Professor Smith’s comment that a dictator could easily remove e-books from electronic devices whilst it is virtually impossible for a totalitarian regime to track down and destroy all copies of physical books they dislike.
I do see advantages to e-books. Indeed, as a visually impaired person who is not able to read print I take advantage of the text to speech facility on the Kindle app in my iPhone to have books read aloud. In addition, all of my titles are available as e-books. However, I also love the physicality of books and most of my titles are also available in paperback format.
“Advocates of ‘decolonising’ the English curriculum like to claim it will promote diversity and representation of ethnic minority authors. However, as this week’s guest Tomiwa Owolade argues, including writers based on ethnicity alone is patronising, reductive nonsense that has very little to with equality.”
The CapX Podcast: Tomiwa Owolade on culture, cancellation and ‘decolonising the curriculum’
This is a very interesting podcast. Tomiwa Owolade argues that diversity for its own sake (for example including ethnic minority authors merely because they come from an ethnic background), is patronising. Black and other authors from non-white backgrounds should be included in the curriculum purely on the basis of merit (not to enhance diversity for diversity’s sake).
Tomiwa Owolade also attacks “cancel culture”, arguing that many in the publishing world are fearful of defending authors such as J. K. Rowling due to concerns over their careers.
The podcast is well worth a listen.
The Lady of Shalott got
Caught up in virtual reality.
She spun
Her web
And found not fun,
But the sheer banality
Of the living dead.
A couple of days ago, I watched this video on Philip Larkin which I highly recommend.
In the video Andrew Motion, the UK’s former Poet Laureate (who was a close friend and biographer of Larkin) discusses the poet’s life and work.
I am a fan of Larkin’s poetry, particularly his poems Aubade
and Ambulances
K Morris - Poet 