"You can have more alliteration, as Mr Johnson had, than a West Coast poet from the 60s on LSD." from Andrew Neil: Made me remember Allen Ginsberg on Llanthony Priory. Gives you pause for thought, Ginsberg definitely on drugs can do so much better with words than an incompetent Prime Minister high on his own vanity!
Which brought up another memory Jennie; Keith and Paul talking about Jack Kerouac when we came to visit you, must get round to reading the Beat poets.
Your memory is better than mine Thelma - all I remember it was nice to have my brain stimulated by good conversation. I've just been to your link and re-read that poem - I can't help feeling he would have had a lot in common with Dylan Thomas. Knowing that valley, and the Abbey and the wee church, it is so vivid in my mind again now.
ReplyDeleteI read a potted biography of Jack Kerouac - another one who should read his work. Tam probably knows him already as she is a lot more widely-read than me.
Tam was saying earlier on that Solva is nearly all given over to holiday homes now - I thought of you and perhaps it was just as well you didn't end up there.
You are quite right Jennie, Llanthony valley has a strong pull on the soul. I remember driving along there with my son and a very large rock had rolled down the hill leaving its marks behind and you just felt the timelessness of Wales.
ReplyDeleteAs for books and the mention of them, they remain lodged in the memory forever. I have put Kerouac down in Audible for listening to. Unfortunately I have a tendency to fall asleep to the crooning voices of the storytellers!