I walk across High Holborn and think of you with nothing on

December 23, 2008 7:19 AM

Eight years nearly to the day after I read about Adrian Henri's death on the Formica table of a service-station cafeteria, another of my favourite poets has left us. Adrian Mitchell, left-wing poet and romantic, 1932 - 2008.

"Mitchell was in the habit of stipulating in his collections: "None of the work in this book is to be used in connection with any examination whatsoever". On one occasion, nonetheless, one of his poems somehow came to be used in a GCSE examination. Mitchell agreed, on reflection, to let it go—provided he himself was allowed to sit the exam in question anonymously. He failed."

posted by mippy (7 comments total)

God rest the man but I shall say that those of his poems I have read didn't inspire me to seek out more; bit too arch for my tastes and the same goes for McGough and Henri. But then I like po-faced God-botherers like R.S.Thomas and Geoffrey Hill so I'm perhaps not the best judge.
I'm sure we were taught the Vietnam one you link at school but no doubt it wasn't in the final exam; all a bit dim and distant now.
posted by Abiezer at 7:36 AM on December 23, 2008

So long, Apeman.

•
posted by mandal at 7:39 AM on December 23, 2008

Seems like only the british are allowed to have famous poets who are famous just for writing good but are sane and together individuals who don't have to spill anyone's blood critically or literally to stay relevant.

No fair. Also you get to write in verse and not be part of some neo-con gang.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:53 AM on December 23, 2008

.
posted by roll truck roll at 7:54 AM on December 23, 2008

.
posted by cashman at 8:28 AM on December 23, 2008

Seems like only the british are allowed to have famous poets who are famous just for writing good but are sane and together individuals who don't have to spill anyone's blood critically or literally to stay relevant.

I know! Remember the time Archie Ammons shot up that 7-11? And John Ashbery and Kenneth Koch held the Bollingen committee hostage? And don't get me started on that ouija-toting thug James Merrill.
posted by rodii at 8:48 AM on December 23, 2008 [2 favorites]

Bugger.
posted by Acarpous at 7:37 AM on December 24, 2008