Clive James (born 1939) found himself in
something of an embarrassing predicament. He was diagnosed with Leukemia in
2010. After various prognoses, the doctors said he wouldn’t live past 2015. He
wrote a poem for The New Yorker that
predicted his death. He anticipated, and he prepared, as well as anyone might. He
wrote a book of poetry about his imminent death, entitled Sentenced
to Life.
And then
he lived. The disease has affected him, but he continues to live. So, he wrote
another book of poetry, Injury
Time, comprised of 48 poems than range from thoughts of death to
family, home, and even the French singer Edith Piaf (1915-1963).
The poems
of Injury Time fall into the New Formalism poetry style.
Among other things, that mean they rhyme and have a certain cadence and rhythm.
James even capitalizes the first word of each line. But beyond the particular
style, using a New Formalist writing style adds a certain dignity to the poems,
a gravitas that is absent from free verse and other forms.
To
continue reading, please see my post today at Tweetspeak
Poetry.
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