Photo by John Siddique
As well as being a profile and biog of the poet, the programme allowed Clarke to say a great deal of real and profound things about poetry that you usually never get to hear because of the amount of wrong headedness that often surrounds this most beautiful of artforms. He probably has done more for poetry by getting out to real people than any of the laureates.
It is a shame that this programme was not on one of the main channels as it would have brought the possibility of literature to many more people who need it. We have narrowcasting dressed up as choice by having all these channels these days, so we all miss out by not rubbing up against things which we initially might think are not for us.
Clarke has a way of cutting through the bullshit and while his own poetry may or may not be to your taste, do give it a chance there is much more to it than meets the ear, he really does know what he is talking about when it comes to why poetry is vital and important for his and our survival.
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