Poetry Roger McGough

from let me die youngman s death (1967),

the mersey sound

one of mcgough s poems, let me die youngman s death (but not, poem states, before poet reaches 73, 91 or 104 years of age), included in bbc anthology of british nation s hundred favourite poems. mcgough has been nicknamed patron saint of poetry carol ann duffy.

philip larkin included mcgough s poetry in oxford book of twentieth century english verse, edited in 1973. writing mcgough in 1980, larkin congratulated him on well-thumbed state of copies of books in hull university s library, when compared larkin s own.

the poetry of mcgough has been subject of academic study. has been characterised, @ least examples, being reliant on play words , meanings. has been noted exhibit stylised wit, and, @ times, sadness based on themes of lost youth, unfulfilled relationships, , downside of city life. form of of verse, has been claimed, has been influenced experience of writing song lyrics. major critical examination of mcgough s poetry, american academic ben wright, published in 2006. author s stated aim examine , evaluate accessibility of roger mcgough s message wide, general readership, appraising rigorous literary standards . mcgough s popularity, commercial success, use of humour, , lack of pretension of verse has tended restrict appreciation of work serious poetry . wright s study challenges under-appreciation.