notes for V F

As the sixties were drawing to a close a number of poets of Finlay’s generation were becoming increasingly unhappy with the way their poetry was progressing and in a letter to Finlay, Norbert Green, who could express himself well only about matters of.... put forward his depraved idea* for rebranding their poetry.

Dear Vern,

I’m coming round to the idea we’re all fucked. I wouldn’t have said that eighteen months ago, after The inner Self* came out, but I’m saying it now. What do you think? Are we fucked? Is that a reasonable assumption? Don’t you feel as if most of the time we’re talking to a fuckin brick wall? The world’s got zilch to say back; that’s the way i see it. The world is so fucking indifferent, yet we’re supposed to just merrily fuckin carry on churning out the same old pap year after year..

apropos, bumped into the high priest* yesterday on Hampstead Heath, squatting half-drunk in the bushes. He asked me if I thought his upcomming coming out* would militate against his popularity. I advised him it shouldn’t, if properly handled. We both laughed at that one. He passes on his regards by the way...



*the high priest: Dermot Lamont (1938-1976) novelist and screenwriter, including, Chocolaty and A Room With A Sink.
*Coming out: the Kenneth Tynan interview in the..... in which ..
*The Inner Self:
*Depraved idea: