Poetic Prize Winners Part II-BIRTHDAY LETTERS

» pamela_saint - Birthday Letters

Hi Diana,

I've read a great deal about Sylvia Plath, about her work and her relationships with her husband, her family, and her friends. Therefore, I find it difficult to treat Hughes' poetry simply as poetry because of its biographical content. I tend to concentrate more on the poems' content and less on their poetic merits. Perhaps this isn't necessarily a drawback, but I wonder how differently I would approach them if I read them before having read so much discourse on Plath's life. I also find myself comparing many of his poems with those of Plath's that he cross-references or alludes to. In this respect, I feel as if I'm eavesdropping on a conversation between husband and wife (and I must admit that I enjoy my intrusions!). I haven't looked at Birthday Letters in a while. You've prompted me to read through them again.

-- posted by pamela_saint

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» dsadams - Re: Birthday Letters

In response to message posted by pamela_saint:

Hi Pamela,
I too enjoyed finding cross-references and allusions in their poetry. In fact the title Birthday Letters, comes from one of Sylvia's poems
'Poem for a Birthday.' My articles and interest in Ted Hughes were well timed, as a 'Hughes expert is coming to speak in Toronto this week. I will email you with anything of interest.

Thanks for stopping by!
....Diana

-- posted by dsadams

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