To Criticize the Critic
I once heard an hour on the radio devoted to talking about two classical composers. Between the host, the guest … Continue Reading To Criticize the Critic
First Person: Bruce Springsteen on “Nebraska”
Two passages from Bruce Springsteen talking about his 1982 album Nebraska. You can hear the entire album here: Nebraska began … Continue Reading First Person: Bruce Springsteen on “Nebraska”
Rediscovering the Hidden Life
Years ago a good friend of mine wrote to me about the birth of his child and said, “I’d been … Continue Reading Rediscovering the Hidden Life
First Person: Ezra Pound’s Advice to a Young Poet
The late poet and translator W. S. Merwin, who died last year at ninety-one, has left us a remarkable account … Continue Reading First Person: Ezra Pound’s Advice to a Young Poet
Thoughts for Shabbat: Jews & Muslims on Pilgrimage Together in the 1300s
From Mark Cohen’s Under Crescent & Cross: The Jews in the Middle Ages: An aspect of Jewish-gentile sociability under Islam … Continue Reading Thoughts for Shabbat: Jews & Muslims on Pilgrimage Together in the 1300s
Edgar Lee Masters’s poem, “Minerva Jones”
Here is quite simply one of the best poems of the twentieth century: it is a diamond thunderbolt straight to … Continue Reading Edgar Lee Masters’s poem, “Minerva Jones”
Seamus Heaney, from “Squarings”
Seamus Heaney, from “Squarings” Seamus Heaney often said that, from his experience as a poet, one’s creative life followed three … Continue Reading Seamus Heaney, from “Squarings”
Seamus Heaney, from “Crossings”
Seamus Heaney, from “Crossings” Seamus Heaney often said that, from his experience as a poet, one’s creative life followed three … Continue Reading Seamus Heaney, from “Crossings”
Seamus Heaney, from “Settings”
Seamus Heaney, from “Settings” Seamus Heaney often said that, from his experience as a poet, one’s creative life followed three … Continue Reading Seamus Heaney, from “Settings”
Seamus Heaney, from “Lightenings”
Seamus Heaney, from “Lightenings” Seamus Heaney often said that, from his experience as a poet, one’s creative life followed three … Continue Reading Seamus Heaney, from “Lightenings”
T. S. Eliot, “Preludes”
T. S. Eliot, “Preludes” I The winter evening settles down With smell of steaks in passageways. Six o’clock. The burnt-out … Continue Reading T. S. Eliot, “Preludes”
Thom Gunn, “On the Move”
Thom Gunn, “On the Move” “Man, you gotta Go.” The blue jay scuffling in the bushes follows Some hidden purpose, … Continue Reading Thom Gunn, “On the Move”
Thom Gunn, “No Speech from the Scaffold”
Thom Gunn, “No Speech from the Scaffold” There will be no speech from the scaffold, the scene must be its … Continue Reading Thom Gunn, “No Speech from the Scaffold”
Robinson Jeffers, “Boats in a Fog”
Robinson Jeffers, “Boats in a Fog” Sports and gallantries, the stage, the arts, the antics of dancers, The exuberant voices … Continue Reading Robinson Jeffers, “Boats in a Fog”
W. B. Yeats, “A Prayer for My Daughter”
W. B. Yeats, “A Prayer for My Daughter” Once more the storm is howling, and half hid Under this cradle-hood … Continue Reading W. B. Yeats, “A Prayer for My Daughter”
W. B. Yeats, “A Prayer for My Son”
W. B. Yeats, “A Prayer for My Son” Bid a strong ghost stand at the head That my Michael may … Continue Reading W. B. Yeats, “A Prayer for My Son”
