Jubilee poems | Royal bias | Lisztomania | Subpostmasters
David Evans’ letter on poetry commissioned for the Queen’s silver jubilee (11 February) was amusing and instructive. Larkin’s serious submission was obsequious and trite, confirmation that the commissioned royal poem is always the very, very bad poem. Larkin’s Hughes pastiche on the other hand was earthy and hilarious. Perhaps only satire can provide a true artistic response to royal pomp. Simon Armitage please take note.
Tom McFadyen
Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire
• In view of the government’s instruction to schools not to show political bias (Report, 18 February), when the £12m Queen’s platinum jubilee book is sent to all schools, will teachers be required to circulate anti-monarchist leaflets to compensate?
Chris Ballance
Drumnadrochit, Inverness-shire
