Chris McDonnell, UK
christymac733@gmail.com

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May 22, 2019

Our new poet Laureate, Simon Armitage,  a cared-for use of language

We have a new poet laureate, a Yorkshire man, Simon Armitage, currently professor of Poetry in the University of Oxford. He was appointed by the Queen upon recommendation of the Prime Minister a fortnight ago, on May 10th.

The office of Poet Laureate is an honorary one, appointed by the Monarch. The first official holder of the position is recognised to be John Dryden who was appointed Laureate in 1668 by Charles II. His was expected to write court odes on the king's birthday. Dryden has the distinction of not only being the first official Poet Laureate, he was also the only one ever to be sacked. Following his conversion to Catholicism, he refused to swear an oath of loyalty to William III, which resulted in his exclusion from the Court.

In recent years the post has been held by John Betjeman, Ted Hughes, Andrew Motion and Carol Anne Duffy whom Armitage now succeeds.

Armitage has written and published extensively and held academic posts both here in the UK and in the US.

On the moorlands above the town of Ilkley , in West Yorkshire , there is a trail of some forty seven miles that has become known as the Stanza Stones trail. It is the home for six poems by Simon Armitage. The project was finished in June 2012. The poems have been carved into stones across the moorland forming a permanent ‘Poetry Trail’ from Armitage’s home town of Marsden , north to the Dales town of Ilkley .

There is a permanency about stone that is evident in the ancient monuments scattered across Europe , its hardness and texture, formed by exposure to wind and rain over many centuries. It was not without reason that we are told that Peter was the rock on which the Church would be built.

Just as with the carving of the moorland poems, letter by letter by the artist Pip Hall, so the story of the faith of the Church has been shaped over many years, through the Councils and the lives of Christian people. That faith has not been formed in an isolated place but within the milieu of the times, informed and shaped by experience.

The Church of our time has its own contribution to make, reflecting on life as it is now, with our knowledge, stresses, joys and fears influencing the outcome. We are contributors to a dynamic faith in the goodness of God.

The last words of the piece entitled 'Snow' are "Then it wakes and thaws and weeps". That has been our story since the high days of the Council, a steady thawing and the re-emergence of running water. The years through the papacy of John Paul II and subsequently Benedict XVI, saw a consistent attempt to regain the sharp definition and certainty of earlier years. It became so often a time of weeping.

Our appreciation of the gift of Francis must be shown by our patience with his struggle. The Bishop of Rome requires our help, loyalty and prayer. The Snow, Rain, Mist, Dew, Puddle and Beck titles of the Armitage poems, reflects , in so many ways, the weather of our Christian pilgrimage across the open moorland of faith.

Within Old Testament scripture we have the exquisite poetry of the Psalms, telling the story of our relationship with God and his with us. What a contrast with the lack of poetry and sensitivity in the recent Missal Translation.

Speaking about his appointment, Armitage said he hopes to ".....build on the work of my predecessors with energy and enthusiasm by promoting poetry, especially within education, and young talent. Since the laureateship was first conceived Britain has changed enormously and the position of poet laureate has changed accordingly. I want to celebrate and speak on behalf of the variety of voices who contribute to the rich chorus of British poetry from a wide range of personal, literary and cultural experiences, and to help poetry explore its potential in a multifaceted, multi-vocal and multimedia age. The poetry of these islands is one of our greatest achievements, and as well as being proud of its traditions I want poetry to feel confident and at home in the contemporary world and to demonstrate that in a hectic and sometimes frenetic age the combination of considered thought and crafted language is more relevant and vital than ever. I hope poets, readers and audiences will support me in my efforts."

In our recent past, the song writers who have enjoyed success have in their own way been poets. Springsteen, Cohen, Cash and Dylan have all written lyrics that are greater than just a tune with words. Poetry is a cared-for use of language, a song reflecting the times, words that demand a response. We look forward to the continued contribution from our new poet laureate.

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