The news from the Poetry Society in London reads rather like The News of the World which is closing down next Sunday due to a hacking scandal whereas at the Poetry Society in London every weekend apart from tonight, the online blog is one of resignation after resignation and the Openly Gay Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy apparently has spoken out about the Cuts they face in London, whereas here in Southampton we have cuts everyday adding to discomfort a six week bin collectors strike only broken today for one day's work and some of the rubbish piled high on the walls and streets of Southampton have been collected but a lot still remains for collection. So its for amusement and entertainment I read cover to cover, page by page the New Political Poetry Edition of Poetry Review and I read Ian McMillan's item: Letter to the Man I passed On the Street Today! Ian McMillan is the presenter of a favourite Radio 3 Show: The Verb and his quick witted approach certainly grabs the listeners attention so in this item Ian McMillan cautions the central character to .. wait a minue, I remember now: you're the person walking down the street in my poem (Ian McMillan is a poet) .. the one about my dad and the ballot paper. You're in a poem. You're in my poem. So why are you angry? What can poetry do to help? What can poetry do to change the world? Let's talk about it at the Library. Quick, while it's still open.
Answer:
Did I give you permission to include me the man in the street .. permission to be in this poem?
Yes/No:
Does it matter why I am angry ... mind your business!
What can Poetry do to help?
Poetry can pay this guy on the street his check as a central character in your poem!
Poetry can make the Man on the Street famous and rich!
Poetry can immortalize the Man on the Street whom everyone passes!
A highly amusing insight into what turns on the Poet Ian McMillan when he needs to address, the ordinary
every day experiences he shares with all of the poeple on the street, whom he passes, not just one man on the street whom he passes! Rich texture, vivid imagery, and an essentially accurate and unselfish account of passing a man on the street. Hard work pays UP and leads to a paying market!