a letter from Rumjhum Biswas
published in www.glorioustimesindia.com
| Sometimes I feel like kicking
myself for taking so long to communicate that I almost and sometimes I actually do, miss the bus! Well I guess it's better late than never. So here it is: WHO FEEDS THE POETRY PUBLISHER As a child, holding the poetry of John Keats, Shelley, Lord Byron, Alfred Noyes and Sir Walter Scott et al to my heart, it was easy to visualize them lying under a bowery tree, pale and thin, eyes looking dreamily yonder, a notebook and pencil at hand... In the romantic era poets often died young. It was the poetic thing to do. As a young adult who still went about with her head in the clouds, I believed that poets ought to be supported. After all they bring in these nuggets of beauty and spirituality into our lives. It was the duty of magazines and publishers to support poets. Then, reality kicked in rather violently through the back door! Poets and most writers hold down day jobs not only to indulge in their passion but also to keep body and soul together. But we all know that don't we? We also acknowledge that those who publish poems do it out of love. But they also must be in posswession of enough funds, pots of money to be able to indulge poetry, right? How I wish, at least for my conscience's sake, that it were true. Publishers know for a fact that poetry DOES NOT SELL. To give a very recent example: Unison has brought out an anthology of poetry featuring some well known Indian poets and some newbies like me. I was thrilled to be included; I also assumed that I would be given at least one free copy. The editor sadly told me that much as she would love to, not only could they not pay but I would also have to buy my own copy, of course at a much reduced price since I was a contributor. She told me why. "Poetry just doesn't sell," she said on the phone. "It's a fact of life. People read poetry, but don't like to buy poetry books." I asked a few friends who buy books regularly. They had all bought non- fiction books mostly - the ones that give tips for success and others by well known journalists/ etc. Some of them had also bought a few fiction books - The Inheritance of Loss category in terms of name and fame, plus some children's fiction in the case of those who had children. Not a single one of them, including two who actually read poetry, had bought a poetry book let alone subscribed to a poetry magazine. While the above example is too small to fall into a percentage or count as a significant number, it does give an indication of ground reality. Clearly people are willing to read poetry. But won't consider buying the books and/or magazines. SO HOW DO POETRY PUBLISHERS MANAGE? There are many magazines that have folded up, simply because the editors and publishers ran out of funds. Even online only magazines need funds. Muse India which is a free online magazine has financial support, even so it seeks donations, because there are bona fide costs involved. Most UK magazines are funded by the Arts Council and US magazines by the CLMP. There are certain other bodies and private groups and individuals who support the magazines and publishing houses. Usually the monetary situation of the poetry editor and publisher is such that it is a sort of hand to mouth existance. With every new issue that they produce, they wonder whether this is going to be their last. SO WHY DO THEY PUBLISH POETRY ANYWAY? Are these guys crazy or what? Why do they pursue something that gives them nothing in return. I guess they ARE CRAZY. Crazy to love poetry so much that they are willing to devote their time (which they could spend pursuing money making activities) and also money to produce poetry magazines. And, the magazines brought out by these nut cases in turn keep the spirits of poets up - "there, at least there's someone who cares about my poetry! And, ah! The pleasure of seeing my name in print!" Further, it gives them (the poets) the encouragement to go on writing and continue invoking with the muse! And, that brings me to the question I asked even before you started to read this piece : WHO FEEDS THE POETRY PUBLISHER? As a person who both reads and writes poetry, I believe I ought to chip in. My contribution is just a wee drop in the ocean, I know that. It won't spell a new lease of life for any magazine. But it will help to keep the faith, of these crazy guys who publish poetry. If not all, if not a few, then the faith of at least one mad doctor who loves poetry with his heart hanging out. Rumjhum |