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Liza Green's avatar

Thanks for your insight into John Burnside’s work. I came across the following poem in the sketchbook of a painter I very much admire, now sadly passed away, she had obviously seen them and copied them, and yet the only place I can find this poem, entitled Postscript is in Granta. I know he wrote another Postscript in learning to sleep. Maybe he discarded it in favour of another idea but for me they’re just about perfect. Have you discovered them elsewhere, perhaps in your studies?

“the trees

are slender in the way that things

are almost, though not quite

absent”

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Terry Sherwood's avatar

Thanks for this beautiful piece, Liza. I am no expert on John's work, just an admirer, so unfortunately I can't enlighten you further.

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Jo Bell's avatar

So nice to read your reflections on this practice, Terry. Thank you for sharing.

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Terry Sherwood's avatar

Good to see you,Jo, on Substack too! One way I thought of of deep diving into a poet over time is to get a selected works. I already have one for John Glenday that I have only dipped into.

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Carl Heap's avatar

That last poem reminds me of Carlos Williams' "So much depends..."

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Terry Sherwood's avatar

Good point, Carl. It has that same feel.

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