Not so...
After reading the Bill Knott interview that Eduardo sent me to, I can hardly complain. I just wanted to update: I did not get the Perfect Job, but will start in again on a contract job on Monday.
No news on the manuscript or article.
Weather here sunny and in the low 70s. I wrote a bit (revised). I may do some gardening. Dog is with John. I may take myself for a walk.
posted by Diane K. Martin @ 1:35 PM
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Interesting interview! Apart from Knott's insistence on his being a failure, I was interested in what he says about a poet's persona: "One must create an established coherent poetic personality to be successful. And one must stick to that chosen persona or edifice. I don’t see Larkin ever deviating from his. As you read his Collected [Poems] you never suddenly find him trying to write something like [Ted] Hughes’ 'Crow.'" I don't 100% agree with this, but I do think the current fashion is to go too far in the opposite direction, to insist that true artists must continually change their style, rather than stick to one.
Yes, I noted that too. I was also interested in his statement that "all successful poets have a template poem." Uh, sure. I won't argue.
It depends on what you mean (i.e., he means) by "create...a poetic personality." I think that's a misleading way to express it unless he means something not entirely conscious. Otherwise it's likely to have a note of falseness to it.
Regarding change: I don't see why either view is "correct," i.e., either a "chosen edifice," the dependable template, or continual change. Some are drawn to one, some the other, depending on one's need for continual change to keep re-invigorating the work.
The funny thing is that I think Knott has created a "coherent poetic personality," sort of The Eccentric Curmudgeon. But on a more serious level, I think he'd have to be considered a successful poet even in his own terms. Over the past 30+ years I've heard so many people say something like, "Hey, have you ever heard of a poet named Bill Knott? I just discovered him but I guess he's been around for a while. He's amazing." So many people, to take just one example, have been struck by and never forgotten his little "Poem":
The wind blows a piece of paper to my feet.
I pick it up.
It is not a petition for my death.
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