Well, this one wins a prize.
As explanations for plagiarism go, it’s a winner.
And this guy needs a prize, just having lost one for plagiarizing – virtually in its entirety – a poem that had won him a contest.
Like almost all copiers, he’s done it many times.
He’s begun examining his other poems for plagiarism. Apparently you never know where the muse will send you.
I have begun to examine my published poems to make sure there are no similar mistakes. I want to be as honest as I can with the poetry community and I know it will take some time to regain their trust. Already I have discovered a 2009 poem called The Neighbour is very similar to Tim Dooley’s After Neruda and admit that a mistake has been made. I am still digging and want a fresh start.
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UPDATE: People have begun writing limericks about Ward. Here’s one, from comments on a Telegraph article:
There was a young poet called Ward,
Whose verses appeared to be fraud,
When questioned about it,
He claimed he’s been ‘careless’,
An excuse that is seriously flawed.
Not bad. Here’s one from UD, American-accent style:
There was a young poet called Ward
Who thought of his childhood and soared
To heights of great feeling…
These turned out to be stealing
Which he thought would go largely ignored.
January 13th, 2013 at 12:02PM
Uh, if you are going to steal a poem,almost word for word, shouldn’t you use an older, more obscure poem from a poet who is dead?
January 13th, 2013 at 1:42PM
Van: That’s usually how it’s done – with plagiarism of any kind. I think this guy must be a bit on the pathological side.
January 13th, 2013 at 3:18PM
Have a look at the article inWorld University News of Jan. 11 on the gentleman in Singapore who has been found guilty of plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and mismanagement and who may well be the current world champion in this category.
January 13th, 2013 at 3:46PM
Hanna: Ah yes. I’ve been keeping an eye on the gentleman from Singapore. Not sure why I haven’t posted about him yet – sometimes I wait awhile, to see if other articles come out…
Thank you for the reminder.
January 13th, 2013 at 10:06PM
Why don’t they award the prize to Helen Mort?
January 13th, 2013 at 10:48PM
Barbara: Yes. Mr UD said they’ve already given it to her. In a way.
January 14th, 2013 at 10:00AM
His poem was about Exmort.
January 14th, 2013 at 12:17PM
Jeremy: LOL.