At 26, the youngest poet to be shortlisted for Forward Prize
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
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Luke Kennard was just 20 when a university module inspired him to try to eke out a living as a poet.
His resolve may have filled his parents with dread, but Kennard had observed a renaissance of talented young British poets and felt confident in his career choice. Six years later, after intermittent day jobs as a waiter, barman and financial assistant, his choice has been proved right.
Today, the 26-year-old PhD student becomes the youngest poet to be short-listed for the Forward Prize for Poetry in the accolade's 16-year history.
The Exeter University student has already won an Eric Gregory Award for his first collection of poems, The Solex Brothers, in 2005. He features on a 16-strong shortlist that includes a former political prisoner from Malawi, Jack Mapanje, the former Forward Prize winners Sean O'Brien and Daljit Nagra, the playwright and author Adam Thorpe, and Eavan Boland, who has published more than 10 books and poetry collections.
Kennard, who was shortlisted in the best collection category for his second work, The Harbour Beyond the Movie, said that, contrary to the popular belief that poetry was a dying art, he considered himself to be among a growing coterie of highly motivated young British poets. "A lot of high-profile people keep saying poetry is dead, but I don't agree," he told The Independent. "I think poetry is included in an increasing number of creative writing courses, which creates more readers as well as writers. There is a hugely creative set of young poets out there who are very well supported by an older generation, and there is a lot of enthusiasm, but not enough of a forum to receive their work," he said.
He added that humour was central to his own poems, which were set in an Absurdist literary tradition, with surreal and satirical elements. "I feel very seriously about humour in poetry. It's a very English thing and I think it's very important," he said.
Michael Symmons-Roberts, chairman of the judges, said it was reassuring to see poetry was flourishing in Britain. "Every year is a tough year for the Forward judges, because British and Irish poetry is in such good health, but we were delighted - and daunted - by the power and diversity of this year's entries."
Jack Mapanje, 63, a renowned poet and human rights activist, first became involved in student protests against the Malawian government led by the dictator Hastings Kamuzu Banda in the 1960s. His first book of poetry, Chameleons and Gods, was published in Britain in 1981 but was banned in his home country. He became head of the English department at the University of Malawi, but in 1987 he was arrested and imprisoned, spending nearly four years in Mikuyu Prison without trial. His case was taken up by Amnesty International and by writers including Harold Pinter. He was freed in 1991 and is now a senior lecturer at Newcastle University.
The prizes, which are divided into three categories - best collection, best first collection and best single poem - were founded by William Sieghart in 1992 to raise the profile of contemporary poetry. Previous winners include Ted Hughes and Carol Ann Duffy.
The winner will be announced in October.
Extract from 'The Murderer'
I take the murderer for coffee.
'Make sure you don't murder your coffee!'
I joke. He likes my jokes.
Later I swing a plank into his face:
This is to stop him enjoying himself -
Which is integral to the rehabilitation process.
His mouth trickles blood like a tap quarter-turned.
He likes my analogies. 'Hey, Murderer!'
I yell, 'Murdered anyone recently?'
The murderer likes to play badminton.
When he loses, I say, 'That's what you get for being a murderer.'
When he wins, I say,
'I guess you got yourself in pretty good shape
Murdering all those people.'
I'm not about to let the murderer forget he's a murderer.
When I dance with the murderer I let him lead
Because he is the more proficient dancer -
'Just be careful not to murder me!' I tease.
The prison sits on the horizon like a great ash-tray -
When we travel I give him the window seat.
'Hey, murderer, would you like a sandwich?' I say,
'Or would you rather murder someone?'
The murderer eats his cheese and ham sandwich.
'The forecast is for snow,' I tell him.
