Launching out on Shakespeare making it a central thematic concern is something that came from your own reference to Shakespeare. Eliza is Elizabeth I, during whose reign Shakespeare wrote some of his poetry. The Elizabethan era gave way to James I’s reign at the turn of the century.

Of course the name Pearl did suggest other connotations, but those were purely connotations and suggestions and not jabs.
‘Othello, the base indian, richer than all his tribe threw the pearl away.’ (The line goes something like that.)

the line naming you and Bin Dalen was not exactly a jab at you, but are references to you. It was this one brief moment when I felt superior. But it is more about how I am working out things for myself than anything else. Of course poetry or any other writing is very intertextual. and you cannot fault me for responding to what other people say. I think my poem is interesting; it requires some more work. But thanks for engaging with it.

Just carry on I say Sumathy.

Thanks for the recommendation. Is it like Sri Lanka’s got talent?
You, I hope, are wrong about one thing.
This poem is about Sri Lankan English, Othellos’s this thing, primitive accumulation and many other things and is not about Bin Dalen, though he did give me the funny funny idea of this thing. But my earlier poem, my teacher talks of a sri lankan english, my very first in fact, had this thing, in just one place. So, Bin Dalen just prodded my memory a little bit
I don’t like to comment on other people’s poetry unless of course I am teaching a class on Blake or something like that. But I am compelled to say this. I’d shudder to write like Indan Amirthanaygam as he does in his recent manifestation as commentator on Sri Lankan politics of the ethnic kind.
So that really hurt. I am infinitely grateful to a suggestion made by Indran on one of my earlier poems; though I did not fully follow his his suggestion, what he said did make me think of it; and my poem became better in my view. But what he writes today on Groundviews is way out of touch with reality and that shows in the ‘poetic sensibility’ as well (the realm called the aesthetic) if you would pardon this old fashioned phrase of mine.

I think you have talent. But then Indran Amirthanayagam also writes poetry. Good wholesome poetry.

But why waste your talent with the intent of pillorying your critics? It hurts no-one but you. I agree Dalen was getting a bit personal on attacking you. But when you write on any subject someone will disagree with you.

The trick is to duck and dive and and not respond. This is best form of defence.

But if they criticise your writings, as an academic you sure have the ammo to reply.