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Friday June 5, 2009

Poetic Justice


Poetic Justice
Despite the unpleasant whiff of sabotage surrounding the appointment of Professor of Poetry at Oxford University, there is an upside. Without the sniping, backbiting and appalling behaviour of at least one of the contenders, there wouldn’t have been such wholesale press coverage and the world of poetry would not have been put at the top of the agenda. In Spain there is a huge legacy of poetry and it is normal for quite ordinary individuals to put forward their literary efforts to local competitions and festivals. In the UK, poetry is often unfairly seen as the poor cousin of the literary world and few poets really make a living from their craft. They rely heavily on performing to earn their bread. The general public often shirks from the task and has perhaps forgotten how to scribble a ditty or a rhyme to voice its innermost thoughts and feelings. A great shame. It is of course sad that Ruth Padel, the chosen candidate for the Oxford role, has been unveiled as a potential saboteur or at least willing participant in a smear campaign against fellow contender Derek Walcott. Walcott was suspected of sexual harassment of students 25 years ago and because of a malicious publicity campaign about him, withdrew from the race. Why did Miss Padel succumb to such lowly tactics as to spread unkind rumours about Walcott to the national press? Perhaps Macbeth might say it was a simple case of ‘vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself’. Whatever the weather, she has rightly been vilified for her actions and forced to step down. Meanwhile talented poet Carol Ann Duffy has been voted Poet Laureate, the first appointment of a woman to the prestigious role in its 341 year history. She replaces poet, Andrew Motion, and will hold the title for ten years on a miserly salary of £5,750 and a cache of sherry. Certainly accepting Poet Laureate status is an act of love and duty rather than of entrepreneurship.

So what will happen at Oxford now that naughty, shamed Ruth Padel has departed? In a year which would have celebrated two brilliant female poets being awarded top positions in the poetry arena, one of them has had to land in disgrace. As for Oxford, it is consequently left in a complete muddle. You could say thanks to Ruth, it’s up a creek without a Padel.



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