I will, Rose, I will! And soon. Thanks for your interest. But first, is nobody prepared to venture a guess as to the number of authors represented by my samples? Without googling, although surely some here will recognise some of the excerpts.

Many good points made by Alex.

Henry

Well, it seems everyone’s chicken!

Partial spoiler: the samples are from no more than three authors.

Henry I think I have one of them but I am indeed too chicken. One is not too far removed.

Janet

OK. b) is Larkin, c) is Heaney, the rest are me.

I imagine most people would agree that Larkin had a distinctive voice. But does it come across here, or could this bit of trimeter have been written by any number of authors?

The Heaney isn’t really in his typical voice, either.


[This message has been edited by Henry Quince (edited July 20, 2005).]

Henry the Chameleon. Clever.

I would have picked Larkin. (b) I do think it has his dying fall.

The first one is faux Murphy and didn't fool me although it confused me.

The dog....well...I ask you? Who else would have? ;)

It just proves that a "voice" is the sum of its parts and not parts of the sum. Your parts are excellent Henry.
Janet

I knew it all along!

Okay, I had no clue. But it doesn't really prove anything, Henry, except that Heaney and Larkin wrote small snippets of poetry that depart from their usual style.

Recognized poets do tend to have recognizable voices. To me, though, all that proves is that having a consistent voice can help a poet achieve fame; it doesn't necessarily make the poems themselves better.


[This message has been edited by Rose Kelleher (edited August 11, 2005).]

Poem removed for copyright reasons.

[This message has been edited by Henry Quince (edited August 15, 2005).]

Henry,
Whoever--it's marvellous. Les Murray, very possible, but can pin it on no one. Whoever, I love it.
Janet

(Ludicrous error edited out. I must have been on substances.)




[This message has been edited by Janet Kenny (edited August 12, 2005).]

One guess so far. Any Murray-lovers out there prepared to agree or disagree? Katy?

Henry,
I'm not at all sure it's Murray. It just could be but probably isn't.
Janet