David Hare: Source BAFTA

The television has been rather dull of late, with the summer schedules failing to ignite.  However, the latest play by David Hare, Page Eight, was a beautiful exception.  So well written with superb acting, it was a delight. Wonderfully crafted, understated and therefore brilliant.

I do love Miss Marple and Barnaby and Lewis and all manner of well tried crime series that the British do so well, but a good new production is always welcome.

Note to self: must try harder.

Denny Bradbury

Haiku, with its set patterns and rhythms, has long been embraced by western lovers of poetry. A short while ago I was given a beautifully illustrated book of Haiku which explains in its introduction how Haiku came to be. The longer origins of this form of poetry is embedded deep within the Japanese love of word play and form. Renga is believed to be one such form of collective poetry making. It has quite strict syllable and line form when people gathered round a poetry master and offered a verse at a time. These masters seem to have been quite strict and the order of the seasons bore great importance. I would love to know more and will also try to write my own but without a ‘collective’ voice it will perhaps be less true to the originals. However that will not stop me trying to create my version as a homage to a great poetical tradition.

Is there anyone out there who can tell me more?

Denny Bradbury

It was traditionally the poet or storyteller who travelled from place to place keeping the population abreast of distant happenings from inaccessible parts of the world. This could be just a few dozen miles away but communications then were not instant in the way they are today. I see the disturbing news of the city riots and am overwhelmed with the idea of the disaffected mixed with the agitators and the criminal. We have a long tradition of good and fair laws, many foundations for which were laid down by theAnglo Saxons. There will be poets who write of these times but whether they will have any relevance for those who have taken part is doubtful, unless we can as a society get them to engage in the process. Wordsworth was caught up in the romance of the French Revolution but was soon appalled at the turn of events with the ‘terror’. Violence is never an answer to social problems, it just begets more violence and deep seated mistrust.

Denny Bradbury

Thomas Hardy's Cottage, Dorset

It is hard to see hours, months or even years of your hard work dismissed by a cruel word or unthinking comment. It is harder when the critic has thought long and hard and still sees no good in what you have done. Apparently Thomas Hardy was so upset by the harsh comments about Jude the Obscure that he determined not to write another novel.

It is an ill wind that brings no one any good and, to my mind, this set one of my all time literary heroes on a course to write some of his best poetry.

Sensitive beings as we writers are it is perhaps best to swallow the pain of cruel criticism and keep on writing, hoping that some of what we produce will give thoughtful pleasure to at least a few like minded souls.

Denny Bradbury