Allen Ginsberg’s Dharma Poetics continues from here
AG: The appreciation of a lineage from generation to generation is also central to Western poetics. From the earliest poems by … well, in Olde English, William Dunbar, “The Lament for the Makaris,” (“Lament for the Makers”) which is actually a recitation of all the great poets from whom he learned.
I’ll just read a few stanzas of that:
“He has done piteously devour/ The noble Chaucer, of makaris flour,/ The Monk of Bery, and Gower, all three;/ Timor Mortis conturbat me/ The gude Sir Hew of Eglintoun,/And eik Heriot, and Wintoun,/He has ta’en out of this countrie;/Timor Mortis conturbat me/ That scorpion fell has done infec’/ Maister John Clerk and James Affleck,/Fra ballad-making tragedie;/ Timor Mortis conturbat me/ Holland and Barbour her has bereavit;/Alas! that he nought with us leavit/Sir Mungo Lockhart of the Lea//” Timor Mortis conturbat me
So this is a whole list of all the great poets and makers before Dunbar, who’s in the 14th century -15th century. [Editorial note – Actually late 15th, early 16th century]
to be continued..