Readings of Modern Poetry: C or D?

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Just heard on the local radio here that writers week is launching tonight with readings of modern poetry in a pub somewhere in town. They played a reading by a young poet, which sounded uncannily like a reading given by Allen Ginsburg complete with accompanying music.

Is that really that remarkable? (I wish I could post a link to an MP3 of the piece.) What does the line look like between rapping and being a poet?

I noticed a few weeks ago that Brett Anderson made a guest appearance at the Bristol Poetry Slam. The quote from the organiser: "We consider Brett's lyrics to be at the cutting edge...He's one of Britain's finest living poets." Quote from the poet: "She lives in a house, she's as stupid as a mouse..."

Does anyone know any good modern poets?

― Mascara, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Clifford Olsen

― anthony, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Simon Armitage is pretty damn smart, and Ian MacMillan is fun too.

― chris, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Mike E. Clark

― Tator, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Christiania Whitehead, Don Patison (i think that's how his surname is spelt?) , Sean O'Brien, Tony Harrison (still!) Sophie Hannah although she's not really my cup of tea. Glyn Maxwell. All good modern poets.

I think poetry readings are cool.

― Will McKenzie, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

poetry readings are things i need to go to more of. Lemn Sissay was good, although he spend entire set telling anecdotes etc, and only recited about 2 poems. Jasper Holmes (a.k.a. the Man In The Paper Suit) was very good - seen him a couple of times. very funny, deadpan stuff. i like the comedy/poetry crossover stuff.

who wrote that long Millennium Poem that was on tv? that was awful. i forget whether it was Andrew Motion, or Armitage or someone else entirely

― m jemmeson, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Armitage wrote the millenium poem, and I thought it was rubbish til I heard him read bits of it. He's got a great reading voice.

― chris, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I agree, Chris, I went to see/hear him read from the play at the end of 'Cloud Cuckoo Land' and it was absolutely mesmerising.

― Will McKenzie, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've got him reading "a glory" on tape somewhere from the old Radcliffe show (hmmm, idea for a thread here)and it's just plain lovely

― chris, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I can't stand 'em, due to too many bad student poets at my university. It traumatized me forever. There was always somebody spouting off their crap when I was just trying to drink coffee and study in peace. The worst one was the guy who had a poetry column in the student paper -- his name was jj something, he wanted to be ee cummings (at least in the sense of his lack of capitalization). Every week his poems would go a bit like this: "leaves are falling/and i am crying/inside my heart/for days past/when i could sing my love". Which sounds wanky enough, but when he would occaisonally read the stuff he just had the worst Van Driesen-style voice.
― Nicole, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I hate reading/hearing poetry with a passion. It is the only literary form in which I have any talent though. This makes me sad.

― toraneko, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Argh, sorry about the bold.

― Nicole, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Campbell McGrath.

― Non-Prolix Nitsuh, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Frank O'Hara, Mary Oliver, Kenneth Koch, Amy Gerstler

― Dan, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Billy Collins, the new U.S. Poet Laureate, is a good place to start. He's very funny and accessible. I suggest "Picnic, Lightning." Robert Hass is also great. Very meditative and laid back. David St. John is quite sensual and sexual. Thats mostly contemporary poetry, not really the slam stuff, which isn't my cup o' tea.

― bnw, Thursday, 18 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two years pass...

what's wrong with simon armitage, dom passantino?

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

What an old thread, in these poetry-loving days!

― the pomefox, Tuesday, 18 May 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

The real advantage of ILB is of course that you can like poetry there.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 18 May 2004 21:12 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

Did anyone read Randall Jarrell's essay on romanticism & modernism, 'the end of the line'?

I think Stevie T once told me that RJ was the greatest critic of his generation. This essay is authoritative, perhaps impressive, but not coruscating.

― the pinefox, Sunday, 23 March 2008 12:00 (eighteen years ago)

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