tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11779531.post115463847684492246..comments2023-08-04T04:41:39.813-07:00Comments on Of Looking At A Blackbird: Not so...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11779531.post-1154725369501139052006-08-04T14:02:00.000-07:002006-08-04T14:02:00.000-07:00The funny thing is that I think Knott has created ...The funny thing is that I think Knott <I>has</I> 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":<BR/><BR/>The wind blows a piece of paper to my feet.<BR/>I pick it up.<BR/>It is not a petition for my death.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13471547669854013234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11779531.post-1154722839631990252006-08-04T13:20:00.000-07:002006-08-04T13:20:00.000-07:00It depends on what you mean (i.e., he means) by "c...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.<BR/><BR/>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.Beverlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18306598876971505623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11779531.post-1154649511817195902006-08-03T16:58:00.000-07:002006-08-03T16:58:00.000-07:00Yes, I noted that too. I was also interested in hi...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.Diane K. Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03204316534769002428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11779531.post-1154643991753168772006-08-03T15:26:00.000-07:002006-08-03T15:26:00.000-07:00Interesting interview! Apart from Knott's insisten...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.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13471547669854013234noreply@blogger.com