[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

Here's an interesting overview of euphemisms in various cultures. I suggest we compile a list of euphemisms that are used in the poetry world.

Duncan

[Ann Drysdale]

As one who is irredeemably of the British Bog-slasher school of self-expression, I applaud the suggestion. However, once we move into the poetry world, the dread question of Archaism is going to colour the issue, rough-hew it how we may.

[John Whitworth]

I came across a nice one this week. 'He was of the pillow-biting persuasion' but, as far as I know, it hasn't been used in a poem - yet.

[Philip Morre]

e.g.
Free verse: prose
Experimental verse: typographically-challenged prose
Performance poet: performer
Eratosphere: Murphysphere

[Ann Drysdale]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaGVQqVCJr4

[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

Nice one, Ann!

Always loved the two Ronnies. Morecambe and Wise were another good team. Smith and Jones. Laurel and Hardy, of course. Carnivalistic mismatches.

Duncan

[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

Okay, I'll start:

These poems don't give up their meanings at first glance. (These poems are completely incomprehensible.)

There is a lot of space for the reader in these poems. (These poems are completely incomprehensible.)

I'll confess to struggling with these poems. (These poems are completely incomprehensible.)

Duncan

[Jayne Osborn]

Haha, Duncan!

Same with, "That's... deep. Oh, yes, that's a very deep poem!" (Haven't got a ****ing clue what it means!)

Jayne

[Duncan Gillies MacLaurin]

This seems relevant.

Duncan

[Ann Drysdale]

When I worked on the South Wales Argus there was no literary editor; we shared out the review copies among the subs and used coded messages that told everyone else in the newsroom what we really thought. For instance "A great, rambling epic of a novel" meant that one hadn't actually read it.

But I did once write a review of a superb poetry collection in the form of a sonnet. The poet in question later won the T S Eliot prize.