Brennen,
I don't have any cred at all, street or academic, so don't feel bad. I
just have, to use Charles' analogy, a big gun that frequently backfires
or jams, which I don't aim very well; nor do I often think much before
pulling the trigger.
Instead of the bathroom, you could do a Marlon Brando and go down to the
ocean with your mouth full of pebbles (by the polyphloisboios seacoast,
that is).
I've actually tried pretty hard to like Ashbury. I just don't. I have
a similar problem with Stevens -- and I'm willing to admit, if forced,
that it's my problem and not Stevens'. I read all of his poems
(Stevens') about every other year or so, and, though I admire his
artistry, I'm always disappointed. The dimension I miss may very well
be bound up with the sound. Stevens is as dull to me aloud as he is in
silence (Ashbury too).
Dirk
Brennen Lukas wrote:
> Dirk,
>
> It wasn't really your post that inspired that rant. I just felt jumped on
> when I was simply trying to add to the discussion. I thought I had some
> points worthy of discussion, but perhaps I didn't. Probably the main
> thing
> is that I had no street-cred when I came out with some sweeping comments,
> which honestly I knew would provoke strong responses.
>
> At any rate, I actually like much of Ezra Pound's poetry, mythic
> references
> and all. I'll take your advice and read some poems in the bathroom or
> something. I don't want to frighten my wife.
>
> Brennen
>
> p.m.s. Ashbery isn't as bad as you think. He's gotten a lot of people
> interested in the possibilities of contemporary poetry. In my humble
> opinion, Ashbery will stand in the same tall lineage as
> Pound/Stevens/Williams, etc. But intelligent people can disagree.
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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--
Dirk Johnson
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