Editorial : the poetic

Abstract

This issue of CounterText develops out of the first CounterText conference, ‘The Poetic: Contemporary Texts and Countertexts’, which took place at Durham University in November 2016. For us the appeal of holding a conference was clear – we had published five issues of CounterText at that point and were keen on discussing with academics and writers we admire and respect the impact of the journal and the ideas it had generated thus far. It was, that is to say, the right time to take stock and to reflect on some possible futures for the journal. The decision to hold the conference at Durham was easily arrived at: we have long valued our various ties with the School of English at Durham and when the possibility of a conference was raised, the Centre for Poetry and Poetics at Durham very generously offered to host us. In this regard, we are deeply indebted to the Director of the Centre, Stephen Regan, and also to Michael O’Neill, whose encouragement and advice has helped shape CounterText from the start.