Poetry And Politics: What Role Should Poetry Play?

guardian.co.uk:

Last week's images of mounted policemen charging the protesters around Parliament Square evoked multiple memories: the poll tax riots in John Major's 90s; the angry young of Brixton and Toxteth in Thatcher's 80s; even, for the historically minded, the Peterloo massacre in 1819, where magistrates sent in cavalry to disperse a crowd of over 60,000 who had gathered to protest for political reform.

Read the whole story: guardian.co.uk

Comments

[Schweik]

12:59 AM on 12/18/2010

Not always.
Many poets are rather obsequious to power.
Witness the institution of "Poet Laureate," a descendant to the lofty court jester position..