This is from the book "Poetry in the making" - the chapter entitled "Learning to think". Before that these were talks given on a BBC radio programme called (I think!) 'Listening and writing'.
He was attempting to make poetry interesting to schoolchildren here. Inspiring book I always thought :)
To all these people who comment on Ted Hughes personal life in regard to his greatness as a poet. One's personal life is completely irrelevant to their endeavors towards literary greatness . Do not read his poems or prose is you are a moralistic fool. It makes no difference. He is a genius and a great poet and literary genius.
@weRstillNotFree I do strongly hate all those men and women who commit adultery. And I have never done anything in my life of which I should be ashamed. I'm a good-looking virgin in her 30's who's tied to the principle of virginity before marriage; I'm loyal to my future husband even before marriage! Shame on all those who deceive their life partners!
@romijain1 I hate them too...But at least they didn't waste their lives, wating for a moment that might not ever come. Poets live life. And write about that life!
Hi Rubyrose. This is a fascinating lecture worth a lot of consideration. You might find Sylvia Plath's second biography Rough Magic interesting and worth the time.
Further to my note before I can say it's definately from Poetry in the Making it's part of the BBC and British Library spoken word collection, you can buy it from the British library's website, it's very interesting.
It's always wonderful to hear his voice I could listen to it for hours, I think what it might be from is a series he did for BBC schools called Listening and Writing, not sure of the year sorry, the book which has this quote in it, if I remember rightly, is called Poetry in the Making, it's supposed to be for children but I actually found it quite useful in my own writing. Great little clip though.
These words on thinking and thoughts are so truly spoken... I'm just annoyed the end part was cut off :/
rilz07 1 month ago
This is from the book "Poetry in the making" - the chapter entitled "Learning to think". Before that these were talks given on a BBC radio programme called (I think!) 'Listening and writing'.
He was attempting to make poetry interesting to schoolchildren here. Inspiring book I always thought :)
mcgigglish 2 months ago
To all these people who comment on Ted Hughes personal life in regard to his greatness as a poet. One's personal life is completely irrelevant to their endeavors towards literary greatness . Do not read his poems or prose is you are a moralistic fool. It makes no difference. He is a genius and a great poet and literary genius.
shawthingfilms 2 months ago 4
Whaaa? Where's the rest?
SpaceCelt 2 months ago
Has this been speeded up? this is not the version I have? He speaks much slower.
BritishArrow 3 months ago
@BritishArrow Agreed - I've never heard him talk anything like as quickly as he does here.
lemonhead1961 3 months ago
Ted Hugehs is the father of poetry for me, not because he was antecedant to any great masters, but because he gave it life for me.
craigpsimpson 3 months ago
Shame on him..he was so immoral in his personal life!
romijain1 3 months ago
@romijain1 humansR all immoral u have cast stone as if u never have been ...
shame On u!
weRstillNotFree 3 months ago
@weRstillNotFree I do strongly hate all those men and women who commit adultery. And I have never done anything in my life of which I should be ashamed. I'm a good-looking virgin in her 30's who's tied to the principle of virginity before marriage; I'm loyal to my future husband even before marriage! Shame on all those who deceive their life partners!
romijain1 3 months ago
@romijain1 I hate them too...But at least they didn't waste their lives, wating for a moment that might not ever come. Poets live life. And write about that life!
crowquake 3 months ago
Ted Hughes just wanted someone to tell him about his uncle.
ramsesiii55 6 months ago
@ramsesiii55 lol!!!
cronos1188 5 months ago
thank you, great to hear his voice. and to hear his thoughts on thoughts.
fringeailments 6 months ago
Janusz Palikot!
bezuchow 7 months ago
jon hamm should ply ted hughes
boyleb1 10 months ago
Hi Rubyrose. This is a fascinating lecture worth a lot of consideration. You might find Sylvia Plath's second biography Rough Magic interesting and worth the time.
A1MaxJones 1 year ago 2
Thank You
rubyrose456 1 year ago
Further to my note before I can say it's definately from Poetry in the Making it's part of the BBC and British Library spoken word collection, you can buy it from the British library's website, it's very interesting.
apathyriot 1 year ago
It's always wonderful to hear his voice I could listen to it for hours, I think what it might be from is a series he did for BBC schools called Listening and Writing, not sure of the year sorry, the book which has this quote in it, if I remember rightly, is called Poetry in the Making, it's supposed to be for children but I actually found it quite useful in my own writing. Great little clip though.
apathyriot 1 year ago
The missing line from the end of the poem is:
"Scald it and scour it like a doorstep"
But whether there's anything to this piece after the end of the poem, I don't know.
nathanielvirgo 1 year ago
@nathanielvirgo lol
cronos1188 5 months ago
Fantastic to hear; but, yes, where's the rest? I want to hear the end of it.
redgen 1 year ago
How could I hear the rest of this piece?
mixelated 1 year ago
Brilliant. Thanks so much for putting it up.
lyhneniels 1 year ago