Clark: ‘Poor Poetry’

 Thomas A. Clark imagines a common or poor poetry: 

a poetry without glory, using plain diction, withdrawn

from ambition, lacking in rhetorical skill, a spare poetry,

not given by the culture but passed from hand to hand.

 

The Scottish Poetry Library says Clark’s poetry pays attention “to the experience of walking in landscape,” which is why I tracked him down.

I’d like to think this kind of poetry is possible: the kind that’s passed down hand to hand, with the noise that dominates the culture not having much to do with it.

• Thomas A. Clark’s “Poor Poetry” is available at the Scottish Poetry Library:

https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/poor-poetry/