http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2007/03/oh-the-terror-the-terror/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2007/03/oh-the-terror-the-terror/#comment-86 jrlee Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:41:22 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=72#comment-86 I too do believe Walcott. His "terror" before the blank page is his way of describing the real tension/anxiety/apprehension that can afflict the writer between the idea and the finished work on the page. And even in these days where "terror" has become cliched and overused political propaganda (in spite of the real dangers everywhere) I think the word still has value and meaning for one who experiences the creative endeavour as a matter close to the jugular: meaning, depending on the world in which you are writing, that your work, the truth and honesty of it, can be grounded pretty close to your sanity, and depending on the politics around, to your safety. And Kwame does place Walcott in his context, understanding where Walcott comes from, Walcott's struggles as writer in his peculiar culture, and Walcott's stature (hard earned) in the world in which this Nobel laureate moves. Prizes and high achievements do not indicate a freedom from fear of failure, loss of inspiration, inability to hold the standard. One has to place Walcott's statement (a repeated one, by the way, in the writer's context.) So I wouldn't poopooh the "terror" statement too quickly without trying to understand it. I too do believe Walcott. His “terror” before the blank page is his way of describing the real tension/anxiety/apprehension that can afflict the writer between the idea and the finished work on the page. And even in these days where “terror” has become cliched and overused political propaganda (in spite of the real dangers everywhere) I think the word still has value and meaning for one who experiences the creative endeavour as a matter close to the jugular: meaning, depending on the world in which you are writing, that your work, the truth and honesty of it, can be grounded pretty close to your sanity, and depending on the politics around, to your safety. And Kwame does place Walcott in his context, understanding where Walcott comes from, Walcott’s struggles as writer in his peculiar culture, and Walcott’s stature (hard earned) in the world in which this Nobel laureate moves. Prizes and high achievements do not indicate a freedom from fear of failure, loss of inspiration, inability to hold the standard. One has to place Walcott’s statement (a repeated one, by the way, in the writer’s context.) So I wouldn’t poopooh the “terror” statement too quickly without trying to understand it.
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