Of Mutability [by Jo Shapcott] is an inventive series of strategies for tuning chaos into counterpoint, flight into the arts of fugue. Like Shapcott, Fiona Sampson is acutely conscious of the physical self through space and time. "Hayfever Portrait" might be at home in Of Mutability--which is not to suggest an influence, but a zeitgeist. Once, poetry's radical new mode was confessionalism and, for women poets, the politically significant foregrounding of their own stories. Now the search is on for meta-narratives.
Sampson, however, is interested in definition rather than metaphorical ramification.
from Carol Rumens: The Independent: Of Mutability, By Jo Shapcott; Rough Music, By Fiona Sampson
~~~~~~~~~~~
The mood of elegy does not have to be Gray. This week's poem laments the death of Basil Bunting (1900 -1985) while reflecting the versatile and playful spirit of its maker, Edwin Morgan, who died last week. "A Trace of Wings" is wholly characteristic of a poet who delighted in whirling the goodie bag of tradition and innovation, and so often magicked forth blends and mixtures never seen before.
With its strict, economical patterning, "A Trace of Wings" has something in common with Morgan's concrete poetry.
from Carol Rumens: The Guardian: Books blog: Poem of the week: A Trace of Wings by Edwin Morgan
~~~~~~~~~~~
No comments :
Post a Comment