I did a book swap with Nigel McLoughlin recently. It arrived (a week after mine made it to the UK) and I was really thrilled to open the pristine copy and read it through inside. His language has a really lovely taste on the tongue: it's definitely savoury, not sweet and there are some excellent poems contained within the covers.
Nigel's done an interview slot on National Pubic Radio, it's a quick five minute slot. In this interview he briefly discusses with the presenter Lynn Neary growing up during the troubles in Northern Ireland and then reads (in fact, I think possibly recites from memory) a great poem Seanduine about his son Euan.
Interestingly during the interview, Nigel talks about how he composes his poems - they are orally composed, which means he tries out his language aloud long before he commits it as a poem to the page. This explains why they read so fully in the voice in my mind as I read them. There's a lot to be said for the word out loud.
13 comments:
Thank you for your comment on my a little dirty haiku, I've answered you there in my blog.
Now I must not lie down in the after elections doom amd gloom.
And forget the unbearable faces that are coming back to power and will almost surely plunge our country back to ruin if they stay more than one year.
I'm glad you are reading Mahon, his poems I remember are in a sort of enthusiastic Baudelaire Paris atmosphere and stream on in a great flow.
I'll re-read him soon.
I love that photo of you!
It's been great catching up on your news - as busy as ever I see with lots of lit. events. Great stuff.
That ball turret poem is a searingly horrific little poem isn't it? Poetry can be so powerful. Like you, I like to read my Norton's (but not in bed!)
Re reading poems out loud - often I have trouble coaxing words out of my mouth - but I do make the effort and find it helps with line scan. I find I read in different 'voices' depending on my mood!
Excellent blog, well done.
Mary.
Sorry meant to add have you ever read Ted kooser, American poet, brilliant poet, has 11 poetry books to his name. His book delights and shadows is my favourite.
Mary.
Hi Mary, I have come across one or two Kooser's in anthologies, but I'm going to have a good look for him now - thanks for the tip!
Hi CB - thanks for the drop-by, yes still busy discovering stuff and trying to write for NaPo... but it's all good stuff.
Hi Davide - I felt like that last election: nothing changes and yet everything does in the end. Funny you should mention Baudelaire - we are looking at him in Translation class: 'Correspondances' it's very, very interesting and inspiring too!
And dear Barbara I forgot to tell you yesterday about Derek Mahon' s poem, one of those I liked most in my life, " A Disused Shed in Co.Wexford". Superb. You have certainly read it and maybe also discussed about it...
Best wishes, Davide
Interesting. I test lines out loud constantly, but have never tried oral composition from scratch. Worth a go, though.
Good Blog! Butch and Sundance ok,but High Noon best ever, and then there's Shane, The long Riders, The Unforgiven, and True Grit.(The one with Kim Darby). Casablanca is fine. Good Blog!
Me too, Dick, me too.
Thanks for dropping by Frank - your blog looks interesting too! :)
Barbara,
Id love to buy a copy of your book, I looked in amazon and my brother in Dundalk was looking for it. Where could I buy it.
Thanks.
Mary.
Hi Mary, Ive replied on your blog - thanks for your interest and support!
Reading aloud is the best!
Damn right Jon! :)
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