11-20-2018, 04:33 AM
I don't share anything with Bukowski except the vague semblance of a language. His vernacular is not mine, his experiences do not mesh in any way with mine, and I do not share his cultural history. I am not American. I know Americans love him. He is very American.
Perhaps in the same vein, Larkin is very British. I know his tone, I know his sarcasm, I share his disdain for the overly sentimental - Larkin is where I grew up, not in place but in attitude.
Therefore, while I may appreciate Bukowski as an artist, I both appreciate and love Larkin. You may say "well, you just haven't read as much Bukowski", and this would be true: Larkin lives on my bookshelf, and I've read almost every word he ever wrote. But I do not want to read more Bukowski. His style is not one I crave. I want the metric complexities, the puns, the classy but calculated insults, the glorious interplay of sounds in every line. Poetry is subjective, and we're allowed to appreciate one over another.
I do not like the confessionals either - in fact I despise them as a collective. Again, their experiences are not mine. Their world is not mine. I do not care for self pity, or extreme introspection, or the abominable cult of the I. Yet I appreciate their art. Individually, they present great talent and ability to manipulate the word to manipulate the emotions. I just don't want to immerse myself in their world.
I genuinely can't believe, though, that we have to defend why we do and don't like some poetry. If someone doesn't like Byron, I shrug and move on to the cake. I don't spend half an hour extolling the virtues of Childe Harold and mapping out his pilgrimage in mashed potato.
Perhaps in the same vein, Larkin is very British. I know his tone, I know his sarcasm, I share his disdain for the overly sentimental - Larkin is where I grew up, not in place but in attitude.
Therefore, while I may appreciate Bukowski as an artist, I both appreciate and love Larkin. You may say "well, you just haven't read as much Bukowski", and this would be true: Larkin lives on my bookshelf, and I've read almost every word he ever wrote. But I do not want to read more Bukowski. His style is not one I crave. I want the metric complexities, the puns, the classy but calculated insults, the glorious interplay of sounds in every line. Poetry is subjective, and we're allowed to appreciate one over another.
I do not like the confessionals either - in fact I despise them as a collective. Again, their experiences are not mine. Their world is not mine. I do not care for self pity, or extreme introspection, or the abominable cult of the I. Yet I appreciate their art. Individually, they present great talent and ability to manipulate the word to manipulate the emotions. I just don't want to immerse myself in their world.
I genuinely can't believe, though, that we have to defend why we do and don't like some poetry. If someone doesn't like Byron, I shrug and move on to the cake. I don't spend half an hour extolling the virtues of Childe Harold and mapping out his pilgrimage in mashed potato.
It could be worse