Britain's poet laureate writes Christmas poem - 'In Afghanistan, no partridge, pear tree'

[bigtree]

Poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy has written a Christmas poem, specially commissioned by the Radio Times for its festive edition.

In 12 Days of Christmas, Duffy tackles a wide range of subjects from troops in Afghanistan to MPs' expenses, climate change and endangered birds.

US President Barack Obama, actress Joanna Lumley and artist Anish Kapoor also get a mention.

read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8397202.stm



First stanza of 12 Days of Christmas by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy

On the first day of Christmas,

a buzzard on a branch.

In Afghanistan,

no partridge, pear tree;

but my true love sent to me

a card from home.

I sat alone,

crouched in yellow dust,

and traced the grins of my kids

with my thumb.

Somewhere down the line,

for another father, husband,

brother, son, a bullet

with his name on.


The poem can be read in its entirety when the Radio Times Christmas edition magazine goes on sale on 8 December.

[juno jones]

1. Never heard of her before.

But I am hooked. K&R.

And I look forward to the 8th.

[bigtree]

3. here's some more on her

In a South Bank Show which is due to be aired tonight on ITV1, Duffy talks about her vocational pull to write poetry and says that she regards creating a poem as like giving a gift. "It is like a present, even when one isn't writing it," she said. "It is true of reading other people's, too."

She said that she also regards her poetry as a reliable companion. "It might sound fanciful. But it is how I feel when I am writing it. I am never alone."

Answering questions from the presenter Melvyn Bragg about her decision to accept the role of poet laureate this May – becoming the first woman, and the first openly gay, holder of the title – Duffy said she had been persuaded by her need to prove that poetry can still be central to Britain's cultural life.

"It is important to have a poet laureate in this country," she said. "It is a traditional way of showing that poetry matters. It is a traditional art, after all. For me to accept the role was difficult. I have a child and I am a very private person."

She added that she felt "public roles should be inhabited comfortably and happily by people whatever their sexuality is" and that she will be proud to carry on in the post for the next 10 years.

read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/dec/06/poet-laureate-duffy-christmas-poem





Talent by Carol Ann Duffy

This is the word tightrope. Now imagine
a man, inching across it in the space
between our thoughts. He holds our breath.

There is no word net.

You want him to fall, don't you?
I guessed as much; he teeters but succeeds.
The word applause is written all over him.

[bigtree]

4. the ninth verse

But the dead soldier’s lady does not dance.

But the lady in the Detention Centre does not dance.

But the honour killing lady does not dance.

But the drowned policeman’s lady does not dance.

But the lady in the filthy hospital ward does not dance.

But the lady in Wootton Bassett does not dance.

But the gangmaster’s lady does not dance.

But the lady with the pit bull terrier does not dance.

But another dead soldier’s lady does not dance.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/6743390/The-ninth-verse-of-The-Twelve-Days-of-Christmas-2009-by-Carol-Ann-Duffy..html

[phasma ex machina]

2. K&R