Looooooooooooong poems

[Neville Briggs]

Maureen mentioned that a poem submitted to the Ipswich poetry comp was nine pages long.

The longest poem in the English language is King Alfred-a Poem, by John Fitchett.
It is 129,807 lines.

[Vic Jefferies]

As someone who has compered many poets breakfasts I have lived in fear of long poems.
At big breakfasts where there is a long queue of people wanting to recite time is always of the essence, but no matter how many times you remind those waiting to recite (or read) that it is imperative that they keep their preambles and poems to a minimum so everyone gets a go, some always ignore you and persist in long introductions before launching into the lengthiest possible poems.
After a while the chief offenders faces are etched in your brain but even though you take them aside and remind them and they agree to be as short as possible once on stage they get carried away and off they go, blithely unaware of the consequences of their selfishness and usually the awfulness of their presentations!
I remember one breakfast where Frank Daniel was the MC and anyone who knows Frank knows he is not a man to trifle with. Notwithstanding Frank issuing the usual information about short preambles and short poems a chap came up to the stage and announced to the audience that he would recite "Salt Bush Bill's Second Fight," Frank's immediate reply was "Oh no you wont!" and Frank pushed him off the stage. One up for MCs.
On another occasion I had a bloke ask me if he could read a poem he had written and I replied that provided it was not too lengthy that would be quite okay. He assured me it wasn't long but when the time came for him to perform he whipped out nine foolscap pages of drivel which he commenced to read very badly. I called a halt after two and suggested he come back the next day but thankfully he did not return.
Which brings me to reading poetry on stage. I see nothing wrong with someone reading on stage.
It is often the best way for people to learn stage craft and can be an introduction to performing but I cannot understand why someone who reads very badly and obviously without any attempt at preparation bothers to do so. Worst of all are those who appear on stage with a book of poetry, announce they are going to read a particular poem in the book and then take two minutes to find the poem which they haven't previously marked out or even worse those who fumble in their pockets for the bit of folded paper containing the poem which they then laboriously unfold and inspect to make sure it is the chosen work!
Why these people do not prepare, rehearse and practice what they are going to read I do not know.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Feel better now, Vic?

[Vic Jefferies]

Yes I do and thank you Stephen.

[David J Delaney]

Maureen mentioned that a poem submitted to the Ipswich poetry comp was nine pages long.

The longest poem in the English language is King Alfred-a Poem, by John Fitchett.
It is 129,807 lines.

And I thought Shakespeares Venus and Adonis was long at 1,588 lines or 9,721 words.......

[Neville Briggs]

Yes Dave, and the literary critic Nicholas T. Parsons says that " reading a few, a very few lines of Fitchett causes the eyes to glaze over and the pulse rate to sink ineluctably towards the level of sleep " . ( The Joy of Bad Verse, Parsons, 1988)

[Robyn]

Like Vic, I sometimes sign when someone announces they'll be reciting a long poem. I've sat through many poems that drag on, giving you a good opportunity to call to mind your shopping list or plans for the weekend.
However, like Marty, I don't mind if it's well-presented and a great poem. It would be a poor world that banned The Man From Snowy River because it is too long. Zondrae posted recently about a fabulous rendition of TMFSR at a poets breakfast at Kangaroo Valley, and if I remember correctly we got through everyone who was on the list that morning. (We were lucky!)
IMO performers should always take the situation into account before they select a poem to perform, and that includes time constraints as well as type of audience.
Perhaps the trouble is most performers think their version is better than average
Robyn

[Glenny Palmer]

I believe it is called ''Professional Etiquette''. And if one isn't ''professional'' the ''etiquette'' should still be observed. In other words...have some bloody manners!!
The most outstanding example of ''professional etiquette'' that I've seen was during a concert on Norfolk Island including Milton & I & Les Murray. The highly acclaimed & very professional Dorothy Porter had been preceded by a 'would be' (& ill mannered 'poet') who almost doubled his allocated time of 20 minutes. Aaargh! Ms Porter graciously proceeded to perform only the 5 or 6 minutes left of her allocated time....hence keeping the event's running time in order.
Would-be performers would be well advised to note the message in this thread...as you can be sure that the orgnisers & the MC...and the paying public...most certainly do!

Go Frank Daniel!!

[Vic Jefferies]

We are getting a bit away from the thread here but Glenny is absolutely right when she says it is all about etiquette! Unfortunately ego often takes control and the nicest politest person can become a stage "nazi" when given the microphone and an opportunity to perform. This problem is not confined to poets but is also rampant among other performers. Of course this behavior then results in somebody else either having to reduce their allotted stage time or in the worse case miss out on performing altogether because someone has decided that they are so wonderful that the time limits do not apply to them or their group.
The professional professionals usually have their stage time down to the minute and the very best even have alternative "sets" if they need to alter their act. Sadly some other professionals really get carried away and spoil the event for everyone who follows them on stage.
My advice is if you are given ten minutes do ten minutes and be guided by the MC who is responsible for keeping the show to time.

[Glenny Palmer]

...''stage natzi''.... ...what a cracker of a term!... I love it Vic.
(geeze, I sounded a tad cranky...really, I was just in a hurry...)

Sorry I 'wandered off' your thread Neville. It's a wonderful subject as now it's clear that my reputation for 'looooooong' yap is undeserved, what with all those blokes rambling on for mega pages....