Thanks for this fascinating post. Meeting up with poet Brendan Cleary after his escape from a prolonged hospital stay, I find him reading W. S. Graham's 'New Collected Poems', edited by Matthew Francis (Faber, 2004) and he highlights for me this moving poem, both robust and gentle. You can find it on the Scottish Poetry Library website here too: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/alexander-graham/
Like Brendan, who has a new collection out from Tall Lighthouse with the ironic title 'Last Poems?', Graham sets a wonderful example. I was also struck by the Cornish connections. I'm working on a book about Rowena Cade, The Minack Theatre and her family. It's said that Rowena would take the digitalis prescribed for her dogs – if it was good enough for them it would be good enough for her. For background and context I've recently enjoyed reading 'Zennor - Spirit of Place' by Bob Osborne (a.k.a. Rebel Not Taken).
Ah: I also have Bob Osborne's book! I bought it on holiday last summer, and particularly valued it for information about Graham and Sandra Blow, whose paintings I like more and more (there is a newly-framed print above my desk as I write this). What an amazingly rich history Zennor has. I've never been down to the Minack, but would like to. Thanks for the reminder about Brendan Cleary's new poems too.
I was thinking of WS Graham’s Dear Bryan Wynter very recently when a rogue foxglove sprouted up, and up, against the wall in my own garden. The seed must have been dropped by a bird. I like the spiky intervention so much I’m going to harvest the seeds and plant foxgloves in my garden intentionally. I kept meaning to buy Zaffar Kunial’s collection and your post has finally nudged me into ordering it. Thank you.
Thanks for this fascinating post. Meeting up with poet Brendan Cleary after his escape from a prolonged hospital stay, I find him reading W. S. Graham's 'New Collected Poems', edited by Matthew Francis (Faber, 2004) and he highlights for me this moving poem, both robust and gentle. You can find it on the Scottish Poetry Library website here too: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/alexander-graham/
Like Brendan, who has a new collection out from Tall Lighthouse with the ironic title 'Last Poems?', Graham sets a wonderful example. I was also struck by the Cornish connections. I'm working on a book about Rowena Cade, The Minack Theatre and her family. It's said that Rowena would take the digitalis prescribed for her dogs – if it was good enough for them it would be good enough for her. For background and context I've recently enjoyed reading 'Zennor - Spirit of Place' by Bob Osborne (a.k.a. Rebel Not Taken).
Ah: I also have Bob Osborne's book! I bought it on holiday last summer, and particularly valued it for information about Graham and Sandra Blow, whose paintings I like more and more (there is a newly-framed print above my desk as I write this). What an amazingly rich history Zennor has. I've never been down to the Minack, but would like to. Thanks for the reminder about Brendan Cleary's new poems too.
I was thinking of WS Graham’s Dear Bryan Wynter very recently when a rogue foxglove sprouted up, and up, against the wall in my own garden. The seed must have been dropped by a bird. I like the spiky intervention so much I’m going to harvest the seeds and plant foxgloves in my garden intentionally. I kept meaning to buy Zaffar Kunial’s collection and your post has finally nudged me into ordering it. Thank you.
You’re welcome — here’s to more spiky interventions!
You HAD to write about Zaffar Kunial's poem just before I did, didn't you. <sucks teeth>
Great minds! I’ll look forward to your take much more than mine…