A bitter feud dividing the Oxford poetry scene has spawned an anonymous poem, reportedly written by a “very high-profile poet;” it is entitled, “Smear.”
Recently Nobel laureate Derek Walcott (pictured) dropped out of the race to become Oxford’s next professor of poetry after a spate of anonymous letters raised questions about his past. A few weeks later, Ruth Padel also withdrew her nomination when it was revealed that she contacted a journalist about the Walcott allegations.
Now, an anonymous poet–possibly even a poet in running for the prestigious post–has published a poem about the sordid affair. Here’s an excerpt from the poem: “Here we come, the kindlers, the / night-watch. / Lonely as the labour is, its nature / utters outward everywhere: a wick / is treated, flame / is sheltered.” (Via BookNinja)