-
A Blogger’s Notebook
ODE TO CONNIE FRANCIS AS THE U.S. BANKING SYSTEM COLLAPSES In the midst of a typicallyAmerican money crisis,in which we allall of a sudden findslippery strangersin the Capitoland in our ownbathroom mirrors,Linh Dinh—a poetborn in a far-offcountry ravagedby one of our mostfamous wars—postson his blog a blurryslide show: gorgeousold-time photosof Connie Francis;they parade before usas she bitter-sweetlysings.Read More
-
Poetry and the Poet’s Character
Reginald Shepherd, in a typically thoughtful and eloquent post, successfully critiques the notion that poets associated with Donald M. Allen’s seminal anthology, The New American Poets, wrote with political and/or social change as a goal. Unfortunately, as he reaches his conclusion, he uses his valuable analysis to make a puzzling claim: “If we were to judge works of art by their creators’ political positions, much would be ruled out of bounds.” On the surface this sounds admirably dispassionate; but the implications of his statement are troubling.Read More