Poetry Magazines - The best collection of poetry magazines online - Simon Armitage

As the tenth issue of the Frogmore Papers appears, it is not, in the editor’s view, time to take stock, or to praise anyone for anything, or to look forward to the future. Certain matters are too serious for that. Matters such as the following:

FACT — Newspapers devote more column inches to breasts than to war, famine, or anything else that people might have to think shout. Breasts are emblematic of modern journalism. They are the symbol of the media mocking those they mediate.

FACT — The characteristic cultural form of Britain in the twentieth century is advertising. More people can remember jingles than can quote from anything in English Literature.

FACT — Publishing and writing in Britain is mainly about publishers and writers.

FACT — Soar opera has replaced folklore as the cultural form within which children begin to confront the essence of the human condition. Children now confront not the knowledge of their own extinction (death, magical disappearance) but the shabby values of the burger culture.

FACT — Facts are so debased as a way of describing reality that
any prejudice, value judgement or half—baked, fist—banging harangue can now be described by the term.

It is against this background that the following must be understood.

FACT — Twenty Frogmore writers have torn themselves away from the electronic hearth long enough to create something that is their own, to risk criticism, mockery and generally being slagged off. They should have written more and better, but they have started something.

FACT — Perhaps one hundred and fifty people read each issue of the Frogmore Papers. While they are reading, their thoughts are not being directed by those who are trying to sell them mouthwash.

FACT — We are going to continue to produce the Frogmore Papers. We need more writers, more readers, and more subscribers.