MAY 2009
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AFTER 341 YEARS, BRITISH POET LAUREATE IS A WOMAN
LONDON - The writer Carol Ann Duffy was appointed Britain's poet laureate on May 1, becoming the first woman to take a 341-year-old job that has been held by, among others, Dryden, Tennyson, Wordsworth, Cecil Day-Lewis and Ted Hughes.
CAROL ANN DUFFY has been appointed Britain's new poet laureate.
Duffy (53) is known for using a deceptively simple style to produce accessible, often mischievous poems dealing with the darkest turmoil and the lightest minutiae of everyday life.
In her most popular collection, The World's Wife (1999), overlooked women in history and mythology get the chance to tell their side of the story, so that one poem imagines, for instance, the relief that Mrs. Rip Van Winkle must have felt when her husband fell asleep, finally giving her some time for herself.
Announcing the decision, the culture secretary, Andy Burnham, called Duffy "a towering figure in English literature today and a superb poet" who has "achieved something that only the true greats of literature manage - to be regarded as both popular and profound."
Duffy, who has also written plays, and poems and stories for children, has a daughter, Ella. She had a relationship for some time with the Scottish poet Jackie Kay. In an interview with the writer Jeanette Winterson several years ago, she said she had no interest in being known as a "lesbian poet, whatever that is."
She added, "If I am a lesbian icon and a role model, that's great, but if it's a word that is used to reduce
me, then you have to ask why someone would want to reduce me." She said she preferred to define herself as "a poet and a mother -that's all."
It remains to be seen what Duffy will make of the laureateship, which is something of a work in progress, despite being so ancient.
Back in the days of Dryden, the first writer to take the job officially, poets laureate were glorified courtiers, writing flattering odes to royal occasions both significant (coronations, deaths) and banal (returns home from journeys abroad).
This pressure to commemorate every little thing produced classics like the poem attributed to the Edwardian laureate Alfred Austin, upon the occasion of the Prince of Wales's getting sick. It included the lines:
Across the wires the electric message came He is no better, he is much the same.
But Andrew Motion, Duffy's predecessor, used the laureateship to bring poetry into schools and elsewhere, and to serve as its most visible national cheerleader - a "town crier, can-opener and flag-waver to poetry," as he put it. He
also started the Poetry Archive, a Web site (www.poetryarchive.co.uk) featuring recordings of poets reading their work aloud.
But he still felt compelled to write royal poems. In a recent interview Motion said he found composing the ones about minor events particularly wearisome, especially since the work was often ridiculed by sniping newspapers that seemed eager to find fault.
"You could be William Shakespeare and still find these poems difficult to write," said Motion, who had held the post since 1999, for the fixed 10-year term.
"If the poet laureate is inclined to do it, let him write about events in royal life that are part of the national story," he said, "but let's not expect any poems about Prince William's birthday."
Duffy would seem to agree. When her name was mentioned for the job 10 years ago, she was quoted as saying, "I will not write a poem for Edward and Sophie. No self-respecting poet should have to."
That was a reference to the marriage of Prince Edward, the Queen's youngest son, and Sophie Rhys-Jones, which Motion celebrated in & poem entitled Epithalamium. (The poem "has two immediate virtues," the critic Robert Potts said in The Guardian, "it is very short, and it does not mention the couple.")
After her appointment, Duffy seemed to soften her position, saying that there are "echoes to be found between poetry and monarchy," in that both have the ability to transform the ordinary into the magical. But if she weren't moved by a royal event, she added, "then I'd ignore it."
Duffy, the oldest of five children, grew up in a working-class neighbourhood in Glasgow, Scotland. She began writing poetry in school, and in 1983 won the National Poetry Competition in Britain.
As poet laureate, Duffy is to receive £5,750. She said she planned to donate the money to the Poetry Society, to finance an annual poetry prize.
Poets laureate also traditionally receive "a butt of sack," which translates into about 600 bottles of sherry. Motion has for some reason failed to collect his requisite sherry, Duffy said, "so I've asked for mine up front."
Mark Your Calendar for Next Irish Seniors Luncheon
VANCOUVER - Last December the Celtic Society of Canada hosted a hugely successful luncheon for the Irish seniors in our community. Afterwards, many people asked to be informed about the next one as they had so much fun at the first one.
So.. .here it is! The next Irish seniors luncheon will be held on May 28 at the Holiday Express in Vancouver.
The Celtic Society of Canada is a non-profit benevolent organization established in 1994 which has provided emergency short-term assistance to numerous individuals in the Irish community.
Now, through a grant by the Irish
Emigrant Programme, the Government of Ireland has provided a wonderful opportunity for Irish seniors abroad to come together in a social setting. Many would not have the opportunity to meet otherwise.
The December luncheon was a magical afternoon and still being talked about by all those in attendance. Guests enjoyed the music of talented Irish singer Mark Downey and after dinner many took a turn at the microphone to share their favourite tunes and poems with a rapt and appreciative audience.
The next luncheon is planned for 12 noon on May 28 at the Holiday
Inn Express located at 2889 Hastings Street in Vancouver (near Renfrew Street). The luncheon will be held in the Cyprus Room off the main lobby and is open to all Irish seniors and their spouse or significant other.
Marie Morris is the co-ordinator of the Irish Emigrant senior programme in the Vancouver Lower Mainland. Anyone wishing to attend the luncheon is encouraged to reserve as soon as possible. Deadline for reservations is May 25.
Reservations are required and can be made by calling Marie at (604) 929-1042, Catherine Brennan at (604) 266-4183, or by e-mail to: maura@telus.net.
2009
VANCOUVER ISLAND ♦ JULY 5-10
OLD BUND DOGS, Scotland
with Pierre Shryer, The Balhgh Bunch, Martin Nolan, Owen Barrington, )onny Hardie, David Wilton, Robert Worrall, Ken Eller, Rene Cusson, kmesP. Troy, AliHutton, Emma Beaton, John Fisher and many more!
SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATION & CONCERT TICKET SALES OPEN NOW!
www.celtfest.ca ♦ 1-866-301-CELT
"Gypsum Wallboard is 100% Recyclable"
J.A. (Tony) McCamley - President
Plant:
38 Vulcan Street New Westminster 604-530-6647
Head Office:
Unit 1 - 5771 Production Way, Langley, B.C. V3A4N5 604-534-9925 (Fax) 534-9688
Check out our website: nwgypsum.com email: info@mwgypsum.com
Vancouver Welsh Men's Choir
Farewell Concert
presenting its European Tour repertoire
Saturday, May 23, 8:00 pm Ryerson United Church 2195 West 45 Avenue, Vancouver
In June we're off to Germany, Austria & the Czech Republic
Tickets $22/$ 18 online at www.vwmc.ca
or 604-878-1190