Simon Armitage: 'poetry is a form of dissent'

Poet and novelist Simon Armitage has been writing about Britain for decades now. In the latest in our National Conversations series of interviews, Armitage talks to John Harris about the obstinate nature of poetry and the culture of violence in Britain that he believes precipitated the UK riots
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[@swsholdingeu]

Wonderful interview; Simon, as usual, can be down to earth and bring up thought provoking themes. And it all comes off naturally. A great man he is - in every way - glad to hear him as a young 20 something.

[@suestewart4884]

Armitage is both down to earth and sublime. Great poet.

[@bolt18999]

FR

[@mjselenehernandezgomez7434]

Amazing poet. It's benn always a delight to listen to his voice, comments and thoughts. All my respect. Greetings from Mexico.

[@MrHarryscoots]

the interviewer hammers reverence into this interview, holding armitage into a light, when at the beginning "simon says" what i do is obstinate and a form dissent, interesting and opposing views of the work between the poet and the critic

[@mikecusack3701]

You was right Mr.Armitage. Those cracks have now become gaping canyons.

[@emilynielsen4378]

Everything he said here is really true and motivational for those who write. Amazing!

[@patrickbateman1434]

Met this guy today

[@thegabrielhyde]

Really great interview. Kudos to John Harris.

[@weskitten]

A bit more Phillip Larkin poetry in the schools would make children like poems more!

[@1alopezg]

Are you off your rocker? i can think of nothing more miserable and dull. maybe a poetry that actually communicates something like a recognisable experience to them in a language that might still have some vitality and pleasure for them?

[@jigsawmuzak]

For you probably most areas of intellectual activity come as dull. No help, then.

[@angelstarfire]

I agree

[@branthomas1621]

You cannot make children like poetry.

[@harryowen6939]

"Don't remember that Wilfred dude": just about says it all.

[@rab6345]

if there was no poetry i wouldnt be forced to do it for gcse

[@elliotskunk]

what a guy

[@judithmackay9735]

Wow what a poet!

[@weskitten]

So, was Simon Armitage once a social worker or something? His book Walking Home now in 2015 has a sequel: Walking Away. Out, of course, in Faber.

[@pitchforkcustom]

probation officer. sorry i took 7 years to reply 😊

[@bennybenny55]

tell the singer not to sing her song tell the poet that he's wrong.

[@chilldude30]

What's so bad about living in Yorkshire?

[@mortschubert3909]

If everybody enjoyed poetry, there would no point in writing poetry?!

[@masoomamalik4151]

I hate to post this type of comment, but I'd really love it if you could check out a poem I posted? I just need some opinions, it'd be greatly appreciated. Anyway, I did actually enjoy watching THIS video.

[@mortschubert3909]

Yeah, we have somehow come to resent this type of approach. :) Where's your poem, anyway?

[@Louismulh]

im doing this for school. I hate it.

[@oxygensoverrated7847]

Same lad

[@christiantaylor1195]

The Yorkshire Bard Strikes Again. Planet Mars(den) FTW. Bazzin'.

[@paulmitchell5349]

Quite some dissenter, Poet Laureate, pillar of the establishment. Ditto radio 4 Roger McGough.

[@yuppyprolepaste4926]

And the North South divide five years later, how's it looking? Half the people from the North I know in London have gone back, and many not from there are following too because prices are too high. Scotland's tryna cut the leash, and many Northerners, it seems, would rather join them than stay English under the Tories.

[@_epe2590]

perfect last minute gcse revision

[@yindynasty2541]

RIP Simon Armitage 1963-2017.

[@RaefonB]

*facepalm* I believed you and went rushing to Google. Lol.

[@johncalvert5931]

Dont like Armitage.. smug..rather arrogant... and he cant write prose... his prose books are TERRIBLE...

[@alansbinnie1446]

It is a form of lazy writing from those who cannot manage decent prose.

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

No it's not.

[@mortschubert3909]

:D