[Tim Love]

Ian Duhig's "The Lammas Hireling" has won at least 2 big UK prizes. Someone brought it to a local poetry meeting as an example of how bad (or at least bewildering) modern poetry was. I offered to write a little about it but I haven't done a very good job.
http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~tpl/lit/duhig.html
leads to the poem and defence. Any help welcomed!

[Robert Swagman]

In response to some of your questions about the 'Lamas Hireling'

He take sanctuary in a holy place to be safe from evil, and melts down silver coins to make bullets - silver being an alleged bane to evil because of its purity.

I believe the 'company' he is refering to is being alone. He began shunning others while others while under a malevolent influence.

I don't believe he is 'guilt - ridden'. He's in fear for his life and soul. After killing the warlock (and I don't like that that term used in his piece) he became cursed and feared vengeance. That's why his cattle died, not from neglect.

I don't like 'warlock', because it implies the being was a human magician, when everything else points to it being a magical creature. Just preference I suppose.

I've never read this piece before and I'm glad you referred to it here. Thanks.