The blogosphere seems suddenly preoccupied with nature's 'cruelty' - it's also come up in comments on my blog and at length on Think of England. I wonder why - something to do with bicentennial boy Darwin being everywhere?
Interesting point, Nige. I'm already getting tired of the Darwin worship, and the big day hasn't quite arrived yet. I don't see nature as cruel, simply blessedly spared the sentimentalism of many environmentalists. Whatever else one can say about nature, it isn't sentimental. Those talons and fangs are for use, not ostentation.
"'Horace takes the waters', also included in [Peter] Porter's latest collection 'Better Than God', is just the latest reason why blood in a cold river will forever be a thing beyond itself."
Peter Porter was interviewed recently in The Guardian:
"Poetic justice
"'There was something my better self couldn't suppress. It's not a question of telling the truth or a lie ... I was writing for myself. Poetry is its own answer, its own end'"
The blogosphere seems suddenly preoccupied with nature's 'cruelty' - it's also come up in comments on my blog and at length on Think of England. I wonder why - something to do with bicentennial boy Darwin being everywhere?
ReplyDeleteInteresting point, Nige. I'm already getting tired of the Darwin worship, and the big day hasn't quite arrived yet.
ReplyDeleteI don't see nature as cruel, simply blessedly spared the sentimentalism of many environmentalists. Whatever else one can say about nature, it isn't sentimental. Those talons and fangs are for use, not ostentation.
"'Horace takes the waters', also included in [Peter] Porter's latest collection 'Better Than God', is just the latest reason why blood in a cold river will forever be a thing beyond itself."
ReplyDeletePeter Porter was interviewed recently in The Guardian:
"Poetic justice
"'There was something my better self couldn't suppress. It's not a question of telling the truth or a lie ... I was writing for myself. Poetry is its own answer, its own end'"