Andrew Motion: "Elitist is a word that's become terribly corrupted"Poetry is perennially on the ropes, a pensive, esoteric artform in a world absorbed by novelty and new media. But Poet Laureate Andrew Motion says it can resonate with all ages and an unlikely ambassador for the young is a certain Pete Doherty.
Andrew Motion: "Elitist is a word that's become terribly corrupted"Poetry is perennially on the ropes, a pensive, esoteric artform in a world absorbed by novelty and new media. But Poet Laureate Andrew Motion says it can resonate with all ages and an unlikely ambassador for the young is a certain Pete Doherty.
It's not often that you get to chat to someone in the place where they're going to end up when they're dead. Particularly when it's the Poet Laureate.
It's not often that you get to chat to someone in the place where they're going to end up when they're dead. Particularly when it's the Poet Laureate.
Andrew Motion is in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, the valley of the kings for English poetry, surrounded by the statues and memorials commemorating generations of writers.
Andrew Motion is in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey, the valley of the kings for English poetry, surrounded by the statues and memorials commemorating generations of writers.
It is the atmospheric setting for an event to mark National Poetry Day, with readings by the laureate and a collection of actors, including Patricia Routledge and Donald Sinden.
It is the atmospheric setting for an event to mark National Poetry Day, with readings by the laureate and a collection of actors, including Patricia Routledge and Donald Sinden.
So how does it feel for Andrew Motion to be here?
So how does it feel for Andrew Motion to be here?
First of all, it's not a foregone conclusion that the poet, or his memorial, will end up in Poets' Corner, he says. There is a posthumous assessment process which decides on admission.
First of all, it's not a foregone conclusion that the poet, or his memorial, will end up in Poets' Corner, he says. There is a posthumous assessment process which decides on admission.
And this raises the unhappy prospect of bad reviews haunting writers even after their death.
And this raises the unhappy prospect of bad reviews haunting writers even after their death.
Public property
Public property
Mr Motion, a lean, rather wry figure, stalks around a stage set up in Poets' Corner, flanked by a statue of Shakespeare and beside a medieval wall painting of a doubting St Thomas.
Mr Motion, a lean, rather wry figure, stalks around a stage set up in Poets' Corner, flanked by a statue of Shakespeare and beside a medieval wall painting of a doubting apostle.
If my name was unveiled here, it would be a good day in heaven, I guess Andrew Motion "But I'd be thrilled to end up here," he says, in the company of the likes of Wordsworth, Tennyson and Betjeman. "Although of course they're a mixed bag."
If my name was unveiled here, it would be a good day in heaven, I guess Andrew Motion "But I'd be thrilled to end up here," he says, in the company of the likes of Wordsworth, Tennyson and Betjeman. "Although of course they're a mixed bag."
Does it give him a sense of his own mortality? "I don't need any encouragement for that," he says.
Does it give him a sense of his own mortality? "I don't need any encouragement for that," he says.
But he says that he has a strong sense of continuity with the previous generations of poets gathered in Poets' Corner - and he describes their presence as a "silent forcing-house" for his own work.
But he says that he has a strong sense of continuity with the previous generations of poets gathered in Poets' Corner - and he describes their presence as a "silent forcing-house" for his own work.
The job of being a Poet Laureate is a strange one - a public responsibility for a very private form of writing. And Mr Motion says that being public property can cause problems.
The job of being a Poet Laureate is a strange one - a public responsibility for a very private form of writing. And Mr Motion says that being public property can cause problems.
Apart from disliking "people poking around my private life", he says that it can make it difficult for a writer to remain as an anonymous observer.
Apart from disliking "people poking around my private life", he says that it can make it difficult for a writer to remain as an anonymous observer.
"It's very hard to look when you feel you're being looked at," he says. And he describes the uncomfortable sensation of being watched by people waiting to see if he's writing a poem.
"It's very hard to look when you feel you're being looked at," he says. And he describes the uncomfortable sensation of being watched by people waiting to see if he's writing a poem.
Challenging writing
Challenging writing
But he is a committed ambassador for poetry - and in particular says he wants to defend the type of literary writing that isn't immediately easy to understand.
But he is a committed ambassador for poetry - and in particular says he wants to defend the type of literary writing that isn't immediately easy to understand.
Poets' Corner commemorates writers back to Geoffrey Chaucer
Poets' Corner commemorates writers back to Geoffrey Chaucer
"Elitist is one of those words that has been terribly corrupted," he says.And he says that defending more complex, challenging writing is as much a necessity as the business of broadening poetry's appeal.
"Elitist is one of those words that has been terribly corrupted," he says.And he says that defending more complex, challenging writing is as much a necessity as the business of broadening poetry's appeal.
Poetry's popular standing was given added street-cred recently when singer Pete Doherty said that poetry was his great salvation when in prison.
Poetry's popular standing was given added street-cred recently when singer Pete Doherty said that poetry was his great salvation when in prison.
"The idea of the troubled young genius who gives up their life to their work is something he seems to have locked onto," says Mr Motion.
"The idea of the troubled young genius who gives up their life to their work is something he seems to have locked onto," says Mr Motion.
And he hopes that Doherty's enthusiasm for poetry will make it more acceptable for youngsters.
And he hopes that Doherty's enthusiasm for poetry will make it more acceptable for youngsters.
"With boys especially, they'll listen to music, but when a poem is put in front of them, they're nervous about it," he says.
"With boys especially, they'll listen to music, but when a poem is put in front of them, they're nervous about it," he says.
Andrew Motion says he began writing poetry as a teenager - triggered by his mother being badly hurt in an accident. And he says his own writing still has maternal associations.
Andrew Motion says he began writing poetry as a teenager - triggered by his mother being badly hurt in an accident. And he says his own writing still has maternal associations.
So engrossed is he in discussing his passion, a congregation has amassed behind us in the pews of the abbey and sit, patiently waiting in the big silences you can get in cathedrals. They're going to hear a piece of his writing which has been put to music.
So engrossed is he in discussing his passion, a congregation has amassed behind us in the pews of the abbey and sit, patiently waiting in the big silences you can get in cathedrals. They're going to hear a piece of his writing which has been put to music.
It's a rather sepulchral moment.
It's a rather sepulchral moment.
Ambassador for literary talents, Pete Doherty"I'm perfectly comfortable with the idea that I might not be here forever, but if my name was unveiled here, it would be a good day in heaven, I guess," he says, surrounded by the alabaster and marble memorials to his predecessors.
Ambassador for literary talents, Pete Doherty"I'm perfectly comfortable with the idea that I might not be here forever, but if my name was unveiled here, it would be a good day in heaven, I guess," he says, surrounded by the alabaster and marble memorials to his predecessors.
Many of the poets remembered here are actually buried elsewhere - and he says that his own sense of mortality is much more acute when visiting where his own family are buried.
Many of the poets remembered here are actually buried elsewhere - and he says that his own sense of mortality is much more acute when visiting where his own family are buried.
"I stare at the patch of ground where I will be, next to my dad, as he and I used to stare at the patch of the ground in which he now is. Nobody exactly wants to die... on the other hand, there are days."
"I stare at the patch of ground where I will be, next to my dad, as he and I used to stare at the patch of the ground in which he now is. Nobody exactly wants to die... on the other hand, there are days."
"It doesn't freak me out at all. But to be here, the honour of it would be enormous."
"It doesn't freak me out at all. But to be here, the honour of it would be enormous."
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