Laureate quest is poetry in motion

Feb 11 2009 by David Whetstone, The Journal

Who wants to be Poet Laureate? Northumberland’s William Radice tells David Whetstone why he should be a contender

IN classical times, poetry was an Olympic sport, as stiff a test of mental prowess as running naked was of physical ability. Poets competed for laurels just like runners.

Nowadays its performance profile tends to be more refined, with poets reading in front of supportive audiences in a non-competitive environment.

The relative merits of Roger McGough and Wendy Cope might be compared politely, but there is no Harry Hill character hollering “Fight! Fight!” as he does on TV Burp.

Then comes the moment when a new Poet Laureate has to be appointed and things can get a bit more bare knuckle.

The Poet Laureate is the official poet of the monarch, expected to turn out a few fine words on important occasions. He or she is chosen by the monarch from a shortlist compiled on behalf of the Government.

It is a post with a chequered past. There have been good poets and bad, those who have written hardly a word and those who have been more prolific than anyone might have wished. On several occasions, second choices have got the nod (as was the case in 1813 when Robert Southey was appointed on the refusal of Sir Walter Scott, and again in 1984 when the refusal of Philip Larkin left the way open for Ted Hughes).

On the death of Hughes, Andrew Motion became Poet Laureate in 1999, the first to be appointed for a fixed term of 10 years.

His time is nearly up and it appears he won’t be sorry. Recently he spoke of the sense of isolation and self-consciousness that comes with the job.

Usually, the impending appointment is preceded by the unpoetic sound of stampeding feet, as likely contenders distance themselves from the job. One very well respected North East poet won’t even comment on the position, let alone throw hat into ring.

Another, on the other hand, wants the job dearly. Step forward William Radice who lives in Riding Mill, Northumberland, but spends part of his life in London where he lectures at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Although mainly known as a translator of Bengali literature, Dr Radice has published several poetic works which have been well received.

In 2005, Northumberland’s Flambard Press published his Green, Red, Gold which he described as “a novel in 101 sonnets”.

Critic AN Wilson praised it to the skies in the Daily Telegraph and suggested that William Radice would do the job of Poet Laureate “marvellously”. The Northumberland poet took heart from the verdict and is now a determined contender for the post.

Picking up a gauntlet thrown down by The Journal, he even wrote – to order – the poem you see on this page (and can hear on www.journallive.co.uk).

So why does he want to be Poet Laureate?

“I want it because for a long time I’ve been interested in the way poetry can bind communities together,” says the father-of-two and grandfather-of-one.

“Apart from my published books of poems and all the translation work I’ve done, I’ve done many poems for family occasions or in the local community in Riding Mill.

“Whereas a lot of poets don’t relish the idea of writing to order, I’ve always enjoyed it very much. I feel poetry of that sort could have a very important role.”

Dr Radice published an article in The Times which he has reproduced on flyers promoting his cause.

In it he complains that the modern assumption is that the post of Poet Laureate has become “a silly anachronism”.

Consequently, the current holder of the post had striven to become a poetry promoter and ambassador, setting up an online Poetry Archive, for which he was “rightly admired”.

But the North East writer retorts: “Have we so totally lost faith in a poetry of public feeling that we no longer think it worth attempting? Is our country now so diverse and disunited that it is impossible for any poet to find ground that all can share?”

Dr Radice has written to the Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham, suggesting that the Poet Laureate “should be able to write strong poems for public occasions – witty or moving or passionate or indignant as the occasion demands”.

He says most past Poet Laureates have assumed that they need to be solemn. He refutes this, arguing that an injection of wit and humour often won’t go amiss. He suggests we commission a cartoon to accompany his poem. Nicholas, our resident cartoonist, is happy to oblige in his endearingly irreverent way.

Dr Radice says he is not an arch-traditionalist, although he favours the disciplines of rhyme and metre over free verse; neither is he an ardent monarchist, although he believes it to be “an extraordinary institution that connects us to our history”.

It is, he adds, “an incredibly rich subject for poetry”.

Dr Radice asks that if you support his campaign to be Poet Laureate, you should write to: Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SWIY 5DH or email enquiries@culture.gov.uk. For more on William Radice, visit www.williamradice.com