Been asked why I hardly perform anymore. There are many reasons, too many to go into here. One of those reasons is I dont wholly believe the poetry scene anymore. By that I mean it feels increasingly alien to me. That isnt anybodys fault, just a personal reaction to the current scene. Scenes are scenes and by definition malleable and continuing. I suppose what Im saying is I dont believe in its integrity the way I used to. For me there are too many similar voices, too many copied styles. Feels to me people are adopting styles that are not wholly theirs, styles that may put them on some kind of performance ladder. I feel as if theres a surge toward poetry for specific reasons and not for the sake of poetry itself. I dont really do charity because Im aware of the loop-holes in that particular politic. While I understand there has to be a sense of political correctness, I cant help but feel work is being seriously curtailed by it. An acquired language rather than the real and genuine thrust of language, the passion of language. I also feel as if the scene has somehow been cleaned up, by that I mean a sheen of The Bourgeois Zeitgeist and not the rock n roll I so adored before. It feels to tidy and organised, like a clock-watching head-masters desk and not grubby, not masking-tape, lager, speed and genius. I feel it a very careerist scene now, again nowt wrong with that if thats your bag, not knocking it, but it aint mine. Hungry pacing poets dont make feel relaxed, quite the opposite, they make me think theyre on a starting block and about to race. I hate the poetry scene licking Royal hoop, cant bare the cosying up to the establishment. For the first time I feel uncomfortable on stage and not attached, who knows that may change. The wonderful malleable nature of the scene may once again change, believe me Ill be there when it does. Im not being a meany here, just answering a query. Maybe Im just old. If its your golden scene then thats what it is, I know what that means and I honestly wish you the best possible time. Gx
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 21:36:31 +0000
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