When Whitman wrote about “great audiences,” he meant readers like John Leonard. I wish he’d had more of a taste for poetry—but then I wish we had even one poetry reviewer on the national scene possessed of such wit, generosity of spirit, deep intelligence, and tireless curiosity.
Thanks very much for this note on Leonard’s death, the potent comment that accompanies it, and the Salon link.<BR/><BR/>Thanks also for your recent entry on <A HREF="http://perpetualbird.blogspot.com/2008/11/whose-side-are-you-on.html" REL="nofollow">William Stafford</A>.<BR/><BR/>And for your collection of <A HREF="http://perpetualbird.blogspot.com/2008/11/buddhism-darwinism-avant-garde.html"