Thom Gunn “The Hug”

[@mharri3677]

Great readings of Gunn's poems. I read him in school decades ago and its pleasing he is not forgotten. Other favourites of mine are 'On the move' (not a very original choice, but a great poem) and also From The Wave which I only recently discovered in an old copy of Moly. Thanks, hope you got a hug!

[@gilcole528]

Thank you for your kind words, and for your suggestions. I deeply appreciate them.

[@marksummers9351]

I don’t know by what strange alchemy the KZbin algorithm brought me here but I’m glad it did. Beautiful reading and I agree that the most important word in the whole poem is dry. If it’s not too personal, may I ask what you have implanted in your chest. Is it a pacemaker of some kind? And finally, if you take requests, Thalassa by Louis MacNeice. Best wishes, Mark

[@gilcole528]

I can’t thank you enough for your kind words. I love this poem. The implant is a cardiac converter/defibrillator, implanted after a heart attack and double bypass surgery 5 years ago. I will look at the MacNeice poem. I’m grateful for your interest. Gil

[@marksummers9351]

@@gilcole528 Gil Thank you for your honest reply to my impertinent question. I think the reason why I find your Gunn readings in particular so intensely moving is that you instantiate in your own body the tension that exists in the poems between toughness and fragility, or put another way between permanence and evanescence. I’ve rarely encountered such a small gap between the speaker and the spoken. Maybe you’re a very good actor, but I’d assume it must be a very deep self knowledge that enables you to inhabit these poems so completely. All best wishes, Mark