Topic: Black Ice and Rain

[Nichi]

Michael Donaghy (by Spoken Verse)
<span data-s9e-mediaembed="youtube" style="display:inline-block;width:100%;max-width:640px"><span style="display:block;overflow:hidden;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" style="background:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ju1qEisOhA/hqdefault.jpg) 50% 50% / cover;border:0;height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;width:100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ju1qEisOhA"></iframe></span></span><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ju1qEisOhA&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/1ju1qEisOhA&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;</a>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ju1qEisOhA&feature=sub

[Nichi]

"Spoken Verse" lists his name as Tom O'Bedlam, but according to the Roger Ebert article (cited in "The Cinnamon Peeler"), he is someone else entirely -- Ebert wouldn't identify his suspicion.

Whoever he is, he's clearly someone seasoned, knowledgeable about literature, and mature.

[Firestarter]

I have to admit, I cringed at the title, read it a bit. Its rather grusome of a read a bit. But I see black ice being like that.

[Nichi]

His comments about this video:

Somebody asked me to read this poem. I hadn't come across Michael Donaghy before. It's a personal dramatic monologue in the style of the confessional poets. It seems to me an imaginary internal conversation rather than a real external one. I feel that it's intrusive to comment on such poems because they are complete in themselves.

The poet himself was a great reciter of his own work (which is not true of every poet) and I'm following his manner, as best I can. You can hear him reciting other poems here:
http://www.poetryarchive.com/poetryar...

In searching for a suitable illustration I discovered that he actually had a mexican skeleton. Auguste Rodin's late 19th century sculpture of hands about to clasp could be reproduced in chocolate, I suppose. Jesus/Elvis pictures are not at all rare - but I didn't see reason to cause offence to anyone by reproducing them. Bad taste and religious kitsch are superficial themes and not important.

In the end I gave up trying to illustrate it - it's essentially aural.

[Nichi]

I have to admit, I cringed at the title, read it a bit. Its rather grusome of a read a bit. But I see black ice being like that.

It is a painful piece ... but rich.

[Firestarter]

It is a painful piece ... but rich.

Yes it is, it shows he's rather deep. Interesting the religious themes he chooses.

[Michael]

He recites well - I almost recognise that voice.

Interesting poem.

[Nichi]

He recites well - I almost recognise that voice.

Me too. It's a fun mystery. Is he someone who has an excellent voice who has never surfaced before, or is he someone who is well-known in another context, but who is now quietly enacting his love for poetry?