I was delighted to receive a mention on the blog of Giles L. Turnbull poet, regarding my recently released “Selected Poems”.
Giles also mentions the Poetry Jukebox who are seeking submissions from poets who identify as being disabled.
For Giles’s post please click here, http://gilesturnbullpoet.com/2019/09/08/speaking-of-poetry/
This list of writers, who where blind makes for interesting reading, https://blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/from-homer-to-borges-a-list-of-blind-writers. The list includes Homer (although there is debate as to whether the author of the Iliad did, in fact exist), John Milton, James Joyce and Borges.
In terms of living writers, I am aware of Giles L Turnbull, http://gilesturnbullpoet.com/ and Victoria Zigler, http://www.zigler.co.uk/victoria.htm, both of whom are blind. Coincidentally Giles and I attended Swansea University at the same time, and Giles has been kind enough to write a review of my book, “The Writer’s Pen and Other Poems“.
I have had the pleasure of meeting Victoria (Tori) and her husband Kelly. So I am personally acquainted with 2 blind writers.
I myself am also blind and have written about my visual impairment here, https://scvincent.com/2017/02/06/guest-author-kevin-morris-visual-impact/.
While being visually impaired may exert an impact on the way in which writers express themselves, this is not, in my experience a primary determinant as regards their literary output.
As always I would be interested in the comments of my readers.
Kevin
Matthew Stewart, of the blog Rogue Strands has produced his list of the best poetry blogs of 2018, https://roguestrands.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-best-uk-poetry-blogs-of-2018.html. I was pleased to find amongst the listings the website of Giles L Turnbull, http://gilesturnbullpoet.com. Apart from the fact that I enjoy his work, Giles and I both attended Swansea University (although not at the same time). We later connected online and you can read more about the series of coincidences which led to our meeting here, http://gilesturnbullpoet.com/2018/07/01/i-spy-with-my-little-eye-something-beginning-with-a-poet/.
Kevin
In June 2017, I wrote a post entitled “Its My Blog and I’ll Swear If I Like”, https://newauthoronline.com/2017/06/27/its-my-blog-and-ill-swear-if-i-like/. In that article I argued that everyone has a right to run their blogs as they wish, including utilising swear words in posts. I also stated that swearing has a place in literature, for instance a gangster novel in which none of the characters swear would be wholly unbelievable.
I am, as pointed out in the above piece, no plaster saint myself and will on occasions swear in my personal life. However this is a rarity and when I swear it is, almost always under my breath and its not something of which I am proud.
I was reminded of my 2017 post by this article on the blog of the poet Giles L. Turnbull, http://gilesturnbullpoet.com/2018/04/01/i-swear-that-be-poetry/, in which he discusses the use of swearing in poetry. The article makes for interesting reading but utilises several four letter words, consequently anyone who would find this offensive may wish to avoid clicking on the above link.
As Giles points out, Shakespeare and Larkin (amongst others) employ swear words, for example Larkin’s “This Be The Verse” is famous (infamous)? For beginning with “They f . . k you up your mum and dad, they may not mean to, but they do”, and (in the case of Philip Larkin) the use of the “f” word is wholly justified (there would not be a meaningful poem where he to have written “they mess you up your mum and dad”. However I remain of the view that the sprinkling of poetry (or any other writing) with expletives for no reason other than shock value serves no useful purpose and I personally find such utilisation offensive.
Kevin
On 26 June, I published a post in which I link to a podcast of a discussion between 2 blind poets, Giles L Turnbull and Dave Steele, https://newauthoronline.com/2018/06/26/writing-blind/. As you will see from this post on Giles’s blog he and I both attended University College of Swansea (at the same time) and we both worked as civil servants in London, http://gilesturnbullpoet.com/2018/07/01/i-spy-with-my-little-eye-something-beginning-with-a-poet/.
Life is certainly full of coincidences as is demonstrated by Giles and I bumping into one another online! You can find Giles’s debut pamphlet, “Dressing up” here, https://www.cinnamonpress.com/index.php/products-listing/product/247-dressing-up. Having read the collection I can wholeheartedly recommend this little book.
K Morris - Poet 