As I’m back in the groove of reading the Penguin Modern Poets series, I didn’t want to leave it too long before getting on to the next one, book 8 – and the added draw here was that it contained the first woman poet included in the series, who is also a poet I’ve read! As usual, I didn’t read up about the writers in advance, so all I had as I started reading was fuzzy memories of reading Smith back in my teens and twenties – well, or so I thought…
Edwin Brock (19 October 1927 – 7 September 1997)
Brock was a British poet who published ten volumes of poetry during his lifetime, and his work spoke to me instantly. His verse ranges across the personal political, and explores not only the complexities of personal relationships but also the changing shape of the world in which he was living. The works are drawn from a number of collections and also magazines, and often reflect the 1960s and 1970s; Brock, like a number of other poets I’ve read, was I sense too old to really embrace the swinging era, and so often observes it in a slightly puzzled way.
However, one poem really smacked me in the face as I read it: “5 Ways to Kill a Man” is a powerful and chilling piece of work which will stay with me. And then I got to the end of the Brock section and that last poem caused a lightbulb moment: it’s called “Song of the Battery Hen” and I’ve known it since my teens (and in fact typed it out in my younger years and had it displayed on my pinboard). I saw it at the time as a cry against battery farming and cruelty to animals; however, I read more into it now, with it suggesting state and political controls, and how adaptable human beings are to inhuman living conditions…
So I guess it isn’t surprising I responded so strongly to Brock’s verse, as I had actually read some before! Interestingly, when I looked him up after finishing the book, Wikipedia reveals that “5 Ways…” and “Song…” have been heavily used in anthologies. I can understand why – they’re stunning pieces of writing and I’m glad to have re-encountered Brock’s work.
Geoffrey Hill (18 June 1932 – 30 June 2016)
Hill is a poet who is *definitely* new to me, and the poor man had the misfortune to appear in this book immediately after a poet who very much affected me. However, that’s not to say his work isn’t good – it just didn’t grab me quite so strongly. His verse was a little more formal, a little more allusive, a little more full of references which needed following up than Brock and so therefore less immediate. It’s probably poetry which requires a bit more work than just a casual read, and I did notice that his work has been described as ‘difficult’. It’s his right, of course, to be as difficult as he likes with his writing, but I feel that there’s a risk of losing the casual reader.
Despite my reservations, I read that Hill was “considered to be among the most distinguished poets of his generation and was called the ‘greatest living poet in the English language‘.” That’s quite a claim, and perhaps I need to bear in mind that I’m seeing a snapshot at a particular point in time of these writers; Hill most probably wrote a lot more *after* this collection was published which might give me a different view. Nevertheless, poetry *is* a personal thing, and I shall continue to like what I like! 😀
Stevie Smith (20 September 1902 – 7 March 1971)
Does the wonderful Stevie Smith need any introduction? She was a remarkable and individual person, writing fiction and poetry, and memorable portrayed by Glenda Jackson on film (though I *did* once know someone who had known Stevie in real life, and he said the film was nothing like her….) Anyway – the selection here includes favourites like “Fafnir and the Knights”, “Night-time in the Cemetery” and, of course, “Not Waving But Drowning”.
Her voice flies away on the midnight wind,
But would she be happier if she were within?
She is happier far where the night-winds fall
And there are no doors and no windows at all.
(from “The Wanderer”)
Smith’s quirky and witty verse is a delight, and she’s not afraid to look at the darker side of things; there are hidden depths in her seemingly simple works and “Not Waving…” is I feel quite profound. I’ve had a go at re-reading Smith’s fiction in recent years, and did stall a little; I think I might have to be in the right mood for it. But her poetry is always a joy to revisit, and her appearance here very welcome!
***
PMP8 was a really enjoyable collection; one of my favourite so far, though it *did* set me wondering about how the compilers decided which three poets to feature in each collection. In many ways, this seemed an odd choice of poets to put together; and certainly with some of the others there seems to be a kind of cohesion, e.g. with the Beat volume and Mersey Sound volume both having poets coming from a similar angle or location. Brock, Hill and Smith, although all fine poets in their own right, seem a slightly mismatched trio..
Putting that aside, though, I’m happy to have read this particular collection; and the next one features another woman poet plus I think I have read two of the authors before – so that should be interesting! 😀
Tredynas Days
Oct 26, 2020 @ 07:55:00
That does seem an odd trio to assemble.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 26, 2020 @ 14:06:33
I thought so – and it made me wonder about the rationale behind the groupings. Nevertheless, I was very happy to encounter Brock once more!
madamebibilophile
Oct 26, 2020 @ 11:18:41
I’ve never read Brock, I’ll have to give him a try. Thanks for putting him on my radar Kaggsy!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 26, 2020 @ 14:05:45
I was impressed – some of the poets haven’t made a huge impression in this series, but his works were very memorable!
Anokatony
Oct 26, 2020 @ 14:47:17
It took until Book 8 to get to the first woman poet? Wow, how progressive.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 26, 2020 @ 15:03:26
LOL! Well, they *did* come out in the 1960s/1970s!
Anokatony
Oct 26, 2020 @ 14:51:40
After making my supercilious comment, here is my real comment. I will want to try Edwin Brock, and I will want to pay more attention to Stevie Smith.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 26, 2020 @ 15:04:29
No, not supercilious, but a good point to make. There were plenty of women poets around at the time, but it just took a while for them to make it into the series, and it’s perhaps surprising they chose a poet like Smith who had been writing for quite some time… Brock is good though – loved his work!
Julé Cunningham
Oct 26, 2020 @ 15:26:16
The two whose work I’ve encountered before are Smith and Hill and I also enjoy Smith’s offbeat sense of humor. An interesting split happened in Hill’s life – his last twenty years were spent in Boston, MA where he got effective help for severe anxiety and depression and it shows in his work. It’s still formal, but quite different from his earlier poems. You’d appreciate his views on Brexit.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 26, 2020 @ 16:33:22
That’s so interesting about Hill! This is what I’m realising about these books – they’re often a snapshot of a poet at a particular point in their career and quite a while ago too, so our view now would be quite different. I may have to explore Hill’s later poetry now…
heavenali
Oct 26, 2020 @ 18:37:59
I hadn’t heard of those first two poets, and Stevie Smith I know from the poem Not Waving but Drowning and her Novel on Yellow Paper, which I read a very long time ago.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 26, 2020 @ 20:56:00
Yes, Stevie Smith *is* great – and I loved the Brock poems too. Jury is out on Hill until I explore more! 😀
Jim Henderson
Oct 26, 2020 @ 20:45:43
I’ll have to seek out the first two poets, as Smith is the only one I’m familiar with.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 26, 2020 @ 20:55:30
I can highly reommend Brock, and do feel I need to look more closely at Hill!
JacquiWine
Oct 27, 2020 @ 10:07:54
Poetry is not my thing I’m afraid, so I have very little to offer on this front. Nevertheless, I’m very glad to hear you enjoyed this, irrespective of the somewhat odd grouping of poets!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 27, 2020 @ 10:30:51
No, wouldn’t be for everyone I accept! An unusual selection of poets, but some very good moments in there!
Liz Dexter
Oct 30, 2020 @ 17:57:01
I’m glad you’re back on these, even though this is an odd set (is there an introduction explaining why they were chosen?)
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 30, 2020 @ 18:05:06
It *is* an unusual combination, and there’s no ethos given for the choice. The books simply say they aim to introduce contemporary poets to the reader. I’d love to know what drove these choices!
anna amundsen
Nov 01, 2020 @ 08:16:38
I’ve only heard about Not Waving But Drowning a week ago, listening to Backlisted. How have I managed to not hear about Stevie Smith for so long?
It’s on my radar now!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 01, 2020 @ 11:10:52
Stevie is wonderful, though I sense she may have slipped out of fashion a little. Very quirky and very good!
BuriedInPrint
Nov 18, 2020 @ 15:39:25
Wouldn’t it be fun to have the explanation for how the poets were selected and presented for projects like these. With poetry, in general, I always want more information. I love it when poets include writing (usually in the back, when it’s provided) about what inspired a specific verse and if there is a historical context that readers would appreciate having.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Nov 18, 2020 @ 16:13:37
It would, and I do wonder if a book like this would be published today with no supporting information and context? If it was just one poet’s work, maybe, but a collection like this (which *is* a collection rather than e.g. the latest book of poetry by X) needs a little more to help the reader. Nevertheless, they *are* fascinating reads and at least I can pop onto Wikipedia afterwards… ;D