Editor’s Choice: Gillian Clark and Carol Ann Duffy

By Philip Dewey - Culture Writer

CAROL Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke are two of Britain’s leading contemporary poets and are both thought of as pioneers of their craft. Both poets have pondered questions of national identity, and while celebrating the culture that we live in they also provide criticism and reproach against the inadequate characteristics of our society.

       On the 10th December, Duffy and Clarke will be reading their poetry at the Dylan Thomas Centre. There will be an unveiling of new material as well as highlights of their respected back catalogues. The evening is part of the National Poet’s Tour of Wales organised by Academi.

       Carol Ann Duffy has come a long way from studying for a Philosophy degree at the University of Liverpool to her appointment of Poet Laureate in 2009. Since the publication of her first poetry collection “Standing Female Nude” in 1985, Duffy has been known for her biting social commentary, her use of colloquial rhythms and her ability to transcend from reality to fantasy and back again in the same stanza. She has also dealt with the ambiguity of gender roles and more specifically the different perceptions of the role of women in “The World’s Wife” published in 1999.

        Duffy has never shied away from controversy, writing about topics such as knife crime in the poem Education for Leisure, racism in Comprehensive and in The Twelve Days of Christmas 2009 she tackled current events such as the war in Afghanistan, the banking crisis, the climate change conference in Copenhagen and species extinction. Her poem about the injury of a football player, Achilles (For David Beckham), must prove that no subject is too trivial for poetry.

         Cardiff born poet Gillian Clarke has effectively captured the Welsh consciousness throughout her career which began with the publication of “Snow on the Mountain” in 1971. Her contribution to Welsh culture was honoured with her appointment as National Poet for Wales in 2008.

         She is renowned for her vivid descriptions of the Welsh countryside set amongst the lives of ordinary families. She is thought of as a deeply traditionalist poet through the use of themes such as animals, birds and farming life. However, beneath this traditionalism lies a strong awareness of the contemporary world, social changes and politics.

          In the poem No Hands Clarke depicts fighter planes flying above fields practising for war in the Gulf. In A Difficult Birth, Easter 1998 she compares an old ewe giving birth with the Northern Ireland peace negotiations. Making the Beds for the Dead invokes the foot and mouth epidemic and the attack on the World Trade Centre in 2001. This characteristic of integrating small scale experiences amongst international incidents makes Clarke one of the most important poets of recent times.

         The event takes place on Friday 10th December at 7:30pm. Tickets are £10 with concessions at £7. To book tickets phone the Dylan Thomas Centre on 01792 463980.