Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Poet Laureate


I realize no one really cares about the Poet Laureate of the United States -- or maybe not no one, but I don't imagine there are that many people out there who give it much more than a passing thought, if at all.

Except for me and my people. I woke this morning to an email from my good friend S who stated her day had begun with the sound of rats scurrying around under her house, an infestation that is driving her and her family nuts. And just as I wrote the other day, that when things in the real world get too crazy and the news one horrific thing after the next, I run to the hills with poetry, S confirmed that she had also woken to learn that Philip Levine had been appointed our Poet Laureate.

Holy Day


--Philip Levine
1973



Los Angeles hums
a little tune --
trucks down
the coast road



click here to read the rest

10 comments:

  1. 'Except for me and my people. " Oh, I imagine there are a few more than that. I can think of quite a few, actually, and it makes me glad.

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  2. I did know of his appointment but have read none of his poetry. I'll have to rectify that. I just finished reading "The Paris Wife". It was o.k.. I did have to smile at a conversation between Hemingway and Fitzgerald in which they said they didn't understand what Gertrude Stein meant in much of her poetry. I don't either!!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  3. There is still hope for our country when we have a poet laureate. That poem is beautiful.

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  4. I agree with Kimmie. Just HAVING a poet laureate is hopeful.
    I don't know why, but Levine's face reminds me a bit of George Washington Carver's. An early, early hero of mine.

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  5. So old "No, you may not make a children's book out of my fabulous poem" is no longer the bearer of the laurel? I confess I'm not sorry to hear that the wreath has been passed! =)

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  6. I love his poem Ask for Nothing.
    Thanks for posting this!

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  7. O.K., that poem bummed me out. Someone enlighten me. I mean, I know that a beautiful, well written poem can be sad; it's just I feel I'm missing something with this one.

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  8. My husband texted me, about to board a plane from Humboldt to home, with the good news of his appointment. Not many--but still a few--quiet celebrations happen with news like this. Little fires in those hills.

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  9. Somehow I missed it and rejoice, as others stated, that we HAVE a Poet Laureate and especially that he is Philip Levine. For reasons based on roots in the San Joaquin Valley, his teaching so long at Cal State Fresno has particular meaning.

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