Interestiing how even though Lowell broke with T.S. Elliot stylistically, he never abandoned that older "modernist" way of reciting his poetry as if it were somewhow separate from him as a person. He's hailed as a "confessional" poet, and he himself didn't entirely repudiate the term (as did Berryman, for instance) -- but he sounds here as if he's reading a laundry list, not "confessing" anything. Magnificent poem, though.
It's affected, yes, as most readers are because of what they are trying to convey...how is a confessional poet supposed to sound? It's a writing style, not a reading style....
Exactly. If we were to break down the etymology of "confessional", perhaps he doesn't read every line break to break, but it is not a "confession" in the purest sense, and isn't that breathless despite who confesses?
Yeah, but, when we've heard such interesting, iconoclastic voices in our heads for so long and then discover the recording, only to find they sound so stilted and dull---it's a real let-down. Plath, for instance, is still my favorite poet, but when I first heard her recordings, I was shocked at how stilted/inane she sounded, compared to the thrill of reading her on the page.
This poem is about alienation and about suffocation in post war American life, where the doldrums of Ike's incumbency kept all creativity and avant garde sensibilities at bay. It's about madness in a world that shouted "Better dead than red," and had school children hide under their desks for a nuclear bomb safety drill.
Interestiing how even though Lowell broke with T.S. Elliot stylistically, he never abandoned that older "modernist" way of reciting his poetry as if it were somewhow separate from him as a person. He's hailed as a "confessional" poet, and he himself didn't entirely repudiate the term (as did Berryman, for instance) -- but he sounds here as if he's reading a laundry list, not "confessing" anything.
Magnificent poem, though.
Always love this reading.
Wonderful!
I saw Stacy Keach read this and other poems on a fabulous British tv show years ago.
I wish I could find it on You Tube.
love it!
Dylan's great friend...
impressive!
I can smell it from here 😂
His reading of this poem from the Poetry Speaks book/CD is a lot better. Although I enjoy this one too.
I love this reading.
It's affected, yes, as most readers are because of what they are trying to convey...how is a confessional poet supposed to sound? It's a writing style, not a reading style....
Exactly. If we were to break down the etymology of "confessional", perhaps he doesn't read every line break to break, but it is not a "confession" in the purest sense, and isn't that breathless despite who confesses?
Yeah, but, when we've heard such interesting, iconoclastic voices in our heads for so long and then discover the recording, only to find they sound so stilted and dull---it's a real let-down. Plath, for instance, is still my favorite poet, but when I first heard her recordings, I was shocked at how stilted/inane she sounded, compared to the thrill of reading her on the page.
Traditionally poetry is spoken... Not just written
This poem is about alienation and about suffocation in post war American life, where the doldrums of Ike's incumbency kept all creativity and avant garde sensibilities at bay. It's about madness in a world that shouted "Better dead than red," and had school children hide under their desks for a nuclear bomb safety drill.
Please. Such left-wing platitudes, dating back to Eisenhower. No respect until you find your own voice, your own opinions.
Love the poem on the page. Hate this pretentious reading of it.