Unstressed

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A weblog from the editors of Linebreak

The regulars

Ash Bowen's poetry has appeared in Crab Orchard Review, Blackbird, and Black Warrior Review, among other publications. He lives and works in Texarkana, AR.

Jennifer Jabaily's poetry has appeared in Mannequin Envy and Fickle Muses. She's a second-year MFA student at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Ashley Anna McHugh is a third-year MFA student at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Her poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Measure, DIAGRAM and Memorious as well as other publications.

Johnathon Williams's poetry has appeared in Best New Poets 2009, the Pebble Lake Review, and Unsplendid. He lives in Fayetteville, AR, with his wife and daughters.

“Somewhat idle”

By Johnathon Williams on May 27, 2009

In the Wall Street Journal, William Amelia examines the legacy of poet John Claire, who overcame poverty and an almost complete lack of formal education to become the greatest English nature poet of the 19th Century (before dying in the madhouse). Claire taught himself meter, never learned spelling or grammar, and was described by a London bookseller as ”low in stature, with light hair, coarse features, awkward, is a fiddler, loves ale, likes the girls, somewhat idle, hates work.”

As the article mentions, Claire’s complete works are now available online.

0 comments // ebooks, john claire, nature poetry

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