[Tim Murphy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQc6M0QmDWs

Spoken Verse (Tom o' Bedlam?), whose readings I have criticized here, has recorded (without permission, gladly granted ex post facto) a poem about Li Po I wrote when I was about 25. I do grant that he has a glorious voice and hits the meters perfectly. My complaint remains that he makes Gwynn, Whitworth, and Murphy indistinguishable. I think all three of us read our own work far better than this professional. I tried to post this comment at YouTube, but technology defeated me. I was delighted by the author photo he chose; the guy does his homework.

[David Rosenthal]

The guy sounded pretty good to me. The comments by his devotees are pretty snarky, though. You should go back and post your comment, Tim, especially since he was sort of trying to call you out -- permission and kind remarks from you would throw the commenters for a loop.

David R.

[Maryann Corbett]

I was interested to read the performer's explanation for his slow, low, un-pitch-modulated performances: he wants every word to be heard with as full an understanding as one would have if one were reading the page.

On the one hand, I understand what Tim says about the sameness in this treatment of very different poems and poets, and I understand why that seems wrong. But on the other, as one who often complains that poems at readings just go by too fast for me to really appreciate what's in the poem, I find a lot to like in Spoken Verse.

[Jesse Anger]

Actually, to have this guy read your poems is no small thing; some of his recitations have hit counts in the tens of thousands. You can say that he treats all poems with a sort of sameness, fine. But can you say that his style of reading is ineffective, or unpleasant. Personally, I love his readings, he's great, and he has a ton of followers. Consider yourself lucky Tim.

J

[Tim Murphy]

Jesse, I said a) he has a glorious voice, and b) he nails the meters perfectly, and c) despite his failure to ask permission I gladly grant it. I know his hit count, hell of a lot higher than my recordings at nearby Distinguished Performances!

[Jesse Anger]

Forgot to say that I really liked the poem.

Jess

[Michael Cantor]

He has a magnificent voice, and a huge audience - and if you listen to any individual poem that he's recorded, and that poem only, it's great. But listen to a dozen, and they're identical. You can't tell one poet from another. What Tim says about Whitworth or Gwynn or Murphy - or anybody else he records - is spot on. Spoken Verse - whoever he is - seems far more interested in showing off his sonorous vowels and perfect diction and meter than in bringing anything of note to the poem. He's a voice, not a poet. I'm a poet guy.

[Catherine Chandler]

Who is he? Roger Ebert says the voice is "unmistakeable".

[David Anthony]

I tried to listen to it but got a message "this video has been removed by the user".
Shame

[Jayne Osborn]

I tried to listen too, but got the same message as David. Disappointing