William McGonagall "Worst Poet"

**Richland** · 30th July 07, 08:32 AM

Fans honor 'world's worst poet' By BEN McCONVILLE,
The land that gave the world Robert Burns also has the dubious honor of producing the "world's worst poet." Now fans of the hapless William McGonagall are campaigning to put him in the pantheon of Scottish literary greats. The late 19th century poet's work is so bad he carried an umbrella with him at all times as protection from the barrage of rotten tomatoes he faced wherever he recited. His most famous work, a poem initially titled "The Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay," drew derision from crowds when it required a hasty rewrite after the structure collapsed in 1879.
It became "The Tay Bridge Disaster" with the immortal opening stanza: "Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silv'ry Tay!/Alas! I am very sorry to say/That ninety lives have been taken away/On the last Sabbath day of 1879/Which will be remember'd for a very long time."
More than 100 years after the poet's death, detractors still won't give him a break: The Scottish literary establishment has blocked plans for a memorial to him at the Writers Museum in Edinburgh alongside those honoring Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Sir Walter Scott.
"The decision to turn down a place for McGonagall was just snobbery pure and simple," said Bob Watt, chairman of the Edinburgh Friends of William McGonagall. "These academics and arts big wigs don't like McGonagall because he's so accessible — he's the peoples' poet. To me he is one of the greats of Scottish literature. ... He endures to this day because he touches the lives of so many people. He's about laughter, some folk laugh at him while others laugh with him." Despite his plodding verse and excruciating rhymes, McGonagall has remained in print since his death in 1902. He was branded the "world's worst" by his own publisher who put the epithet on a volume of his works. McGonagall himself was confident of his genius, believing his poetry to be second only to that of Shakespeare.
Today fans keep the flame alive with regular recitals and their own version of a Burns Supper — the annual gatherings marking Burns' birthday that include prodigious consumption of Scotch whiskey. At McGonagall night, the meal is eaten back to front with the dessert first and ending with the starter. On such evenings, devotees are likely to declaim vintage McGonagall verses such as: "Beautiful Moon, with thy silvery light/Thou seemest most charming to my sight/As I gaze upon thee in the sky so high/A tear of joy does moisten mine eye." Neither McGonagall's home town of Edinburgh, nor his adopted city of Dundee, on the east coast of Scotland, has a statue to him — though both have plaques. Scotland's literary and artistic vanguard The Saltire Society confirmed it had vetoed proposals to honor McGonagall with a slab in the courtyard of the Writers Museums in Edinburgh. "His work appeals to people because it gives them a sense of superiority. This is mockery rather than appreciation. So-called fans are in fact cruel because they make fun of McGonagall's ineptitude," said Paul Scott, vice-convenor of the society.

**McClef** · 30th July 07, 10:29 AM

I have been a fan since my St Andrews days and even wrote a poem in his style to honour him.

Literary snobbery may look down and refuse him the honours he is due, but the fact remains he has been more successful than many so-called "good" poets and that sticks in their craw.

**BEEDEE** · 30th July 07, 12:12 PM

The highlight of the Scottish Heritage Society of Eastern North Carolina annual St Andrews' Ceilidh is a reading of several of his poems!

Brian

**Phil** · 31st July 07, 12:34 AM

Billy Connolly is a big fan I believe. I saw him reading the poem about the Tay bridge disaster in a snowstorm on a hill above Dundee in his tour of Scotland series. I have never read McGonagall's poetry, some call it doggerel, so I can't comment on its merit or otherwise. As long as you enjoy it then it is good for you.