Comments on: “Tempations of Solitude” series now half as solitary

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:45:17 +0000

Yes indeed. I’ve begun to feel that Facebook badly needs an “introduce” button that would let one easily make virtual introductions between people who ought to know each other.

By: marly youmans

marly youmans — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:35:29 +0000

Hi Dave,

Barely back from Siem Reap and Bangkok… and have resolved to finish reading your Clive-poems just as soon as I put my long-suffering (long-babysitting) mama on the plane to North Carolina on Wednesday. One of the entertaining things (the good things) about the internet is seeing one’s e-friends click and send up some fireworks, isn’t it?

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 03:41:35 +0000

Hi Clive – I’m glad that poem provides some perspective on what sounds like an appalling, and potentially very dangerous, situation. I just remembered what sparked it (aside from the painting): last spring, National Public Radio did a series of stories in which one of their reporters was following in Chaucer’s footsteps — or rather, in the footsteps of his fictitious pilgrims to Canterbury. In one of the episodes, they talked about the changing demographics, and interviewed a number of long-time residents of various political persuasions, nearly all of whom expressed anti-immigrant bigotry to one degree or another. But in terms of ecological carrying capacity, I would say that Britain is already dangerously overcrowded, so I don’t know what the solution is. Personally, I do feel that if we’re going to allow the unregulated flow of capital, we have to do the same with workers — but a better solution might be to go back to tarrifs and such. Neoliberal economics are largely behind the flow of Mexicans north to the United States, too: cheap American grain has destroyed their agricultural economy. It’s a nasty business all around.

By: Clive Hicks-Jenkins

Clive Hicks-Jenkins — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:30:19 +0000

Beth, I think that you’re right about the Beating of the Unjustly Accused. Oddly enough I thought it a fascinating response from Dave at the time he initially posted it on Via Negativa, but it assumed eerie prescience last week during the furore caused by the decision to invite the ‘Leader’ of the British National Party… I simply cannot bring myself to put his name here… to appear on the BBC’s current affairs programme Question Time. I don’t know how much you know about the rise of the BNP in the UK, and of their repellent stance over issues of race and immigration. This man has been spouting nonsense for years. (In addition to his racial prejudices he’s denied the Holocaust and declared homosexual men to be ‘creepy’. You get the picture.) However I wasn’t reassured when the Question Time audience, seething with hostility toward him, quickly exposed the depths of his ignorance, because candidly the electorate for whom he has most appeal are probably not politically savvy regular Question Time viewers. In fact the tried and true Question Time format of members of the audience asking questions answered in turn by each guest on the panel, was completely abandoned. I think that had he been required to contribute to the programme in the regular way, his complete unsuitability for public office would have been swiftly made apparent. Instead the programme degenerated into the unedifying spectacle of an audience united against despicable yet fairly inarticulate man whose response was to ‘smirk’ when asked why he denied the Holocaust! (I kid you not. He SMIRKED! That’s about his level.)

Of course there will always be those who’ll side with the underdog in such circumstances, quite simply because it isn’t pleasant… and indeed doesn’t seem at all ‘fair play’… to witness one man cowering before a vociferously hostile crowd. We should be better than that, even when faced with the leader of the BNP.

But to get back to poetry here. Dave, your poem captures something that’s been haunting me all week. The BNP is brazen in its hatred of ‘other’, whether that be defined by colour, language, sexual orientation, faith or even just opinion. I wasn’t thinking of the BNP when I painted The Beating of the Unjustly Accused. I was expressing something hateful that all too frequently has found a voice, call it whatever ‘ism’ you will. Fascism. Nazism. Racism. Nationalism! Thank you my friend for making us think, and doing so with insight and eloquence. Confronted by the baying hatred of the BNP, I turn to find beauty, wisdom, courage and inspiration in your magnificent poem.

By: JMartin

JMartin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:28:37 +0000

… but twice as tempting.

How extraordinarily satisfying to see them paired.

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:44:02 +0000

1. They look great together. 2. That’s the most expressive photo of you I’ve seen, perfect for a dust jacket! 3. Great site layout the guy has. 4. Congratulations!

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:47:48 +0000

Thanks, y’all.

By: carolee

carolee — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:43:00 +0000

the site and set-up = amazing! congratulations!

By: Joan

Joan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:39 +0000

A perfect marriage of true minds. I absolutely love these! It’s hard to believe that you two did not collaborate from the get go.

Now if you can get him to illustrate one of your poems. (grin)

By: quiet regular

quiet regular — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:53:56 +0000

They are all good…the celibate couple, excellent.