Daring. Truthful. Passion as a borderline dangerous, necessary, hungering act of destructive-reconstructive engagement between these two beings of a certain mind and body meld. Cutting. Visceral. I appreciate you posting such a raw revealing, edgy eligy. Pow!
I once went to a Ted Hughes poetry reading and afterwards was very insensitive and asked him about his relationship with Sylvia and I've regretted that question ever since.
I greatly admire what he did with MPT but I'm not a big fan of his verse. His 'roughness' is still being wheeled out as some sort of badge of authenticity. It's unnecessary. People read and understand differently. If it's any consolation I could have beaten the shit out of Larkin as well.
People do read and understand differently, but a puritanic worldview and a Santa Claus morality have no place in poetry, an ancient domain preserved for mad men, spirit channelers, outcasts, shamans.
I would describe Hughes as a deeply conservative poet . Where he stepped outside this was when he supported poetry in translation, particularly writers from Eastern Europe. Your stuff about mad men, spirit channelers, etc. is baby talk. I've no problem with writers or readers using whatever method works for them, but I would never seek to make a preserve out of it. Wallace Stevens worked in insurance.
He was most certainly a bastard but looking at art for art's sake is being lost, me thinks. This is a hard hitting poem that is raw and seeking. I appreciate that.
Thanks for your wide range of offerings. I appreciate that too.
Comparisons are odious, useless and why take sides, but I like Plath more :D Impossible to not see Ted and Daddy looming when you read her, and then if coming to Ted, it becomes impossible to forget what she said. 'The man in black with a Meinkampf look'. Ooof. Maybe it's just me!
For a moment in a former life I dated a woman (yes, it's true) whose mother had dated Sylvia Plath. For what it's worth. Shit's complicated. This poem, however, is bothersome and so, I suppose, successful in a way, if one like being bothered. I'll pass on this pesadilla.
Daring. Truthful. Passion as a borderline dangerous, necessary, hungering act of destructive-reconstructive engagement between these two beings of a certain mind and body meld. Cutting. Visceral. I appreciate you posting such a raw revealing, edgy eligy. Pow!
I’m wondering what year he wrote this.. if his relationship with Silvia Plath inspired it. Stunning poem. Thanks.
I wondered as well.
I once went to a Ted Hughes poetry reading and afterwards was very insensitive and asked him about his relationship with Sylvia and I've regretted that question ever since.
THE COLDEST WINTER FOR 150 YEARS {evidenced by the number of layers we wore
I'm never sure how much people know about Ted Hughes
He was married to Sylvia Plath
Who killed herself by putting her head in a gas oven
While Ted was having an affair with Assia Wevill
Who also killed herself (and their child)
by putting her head in a gas oven
probably a coincidence
like the disappearance of Pauline Reade
or John Kilbride
Keith Bennett or Lesley Ann Downey
Eddie Evans, an apprentice engineer
Ted was fond of Country pursuits
Killing, in all her ruddy particulars
He taught his daughter (by Sylvia) how to skin a badger
For example, and delighted his University chums
By roasting meat over the coal fire in his college rooms
Pembroke College, Cambridge
I don't think I'd have even broken sweat
If I'd been asked to kick the shit out of him
but I never was, and now he's dead
Measured. Marked. Cut
Whoa...grizzly. The poem is wild, and makes me feel quite gross for having read it.
Grisly? Or the bear?
Ha! Yes. Not the bear.
Don’t hold back mate😂
Ha! I know he's a good writer - he just doesn't do it for me ....
I like the poetry but I do think he was a twat, but so are many to be fair….
Clearly you don't have what it takes to read poetry and understand poets.
Please explain your method for absorbing poetry to her.
I greatly admire what he did with MPT but I'm not a big fan of his verse. His 'roughness' is still being wheeled out as some sort of badge of authenticity. It's unnecessary. People read and understand differently. If it's any consolation I could have beaten the shit out of Larkin as well.
People do read and understand differently, but a puritanic worldview and a Santa Claus morality have no place in poetry, an ancient domain preserved for mad men, spirit channelers, outcasts, shamans.
I would describe Hughes as a deeply conservative poet . Where he stepped outside this was when he supported poetry in translation, particularly writers from Eastern Europe. Your stuff about mad men, spirit channelers, etc. is baby talk. I've no problem with writers or readers using whatever method works for them, but I would never seek to make a preserve out of it. Wallace Stevens worked in insurance.
Sir (or ma’am) thank you. And for the poem above.
He was most certainly a bastard but looking at art for art's sake is being lost, me thinks. This is a hard hitting poem that is raw and seeking. I appreciate that.
Thanks for your wide range of offerings. I appreciate that too.
Glad someone said it😂😂
I find this poem authentic wild & vivid; it moved me!
Sound like a lovely couple!
It wasn’t a kitchen poem thank goodness 😅
I’d love a love like that... wistful
Janet, he wrote that for us
Comparisons are odious, useless and why take sides, but I like Plath more :D Impossible to not see Ted and Daddy looming when you read her, and then if coming to Ted, it becomes impossible to forget what she said. 'The man in black with a Meinkampf look'. Ooof. Maybe it's just me!
Raw, harsh poem about obsessive desire!
Reminds me: Gina if you loved me - you’d let me eat your brain?!
Holy crap, this is so good!!
For a moment in a former life I dated a woman (yes, it's true) whose mother had dated Sylvia Plath. For what it's worth. Shit's complicated. This poem, however, is bothersome and so, I suppose, successful in a way, if one like being bothered. I'll pass on this pesadilla.
Ted Hughes, divisive as ever… but great despite all his undoubted flaws.