World Class Poetry Blog

Poets To Admire: Goodbye, Thanks, And Words Of Wisdom
25 January 2008, the poet @ 8:15 pm

Nancy Breen is saying goodbye as editor of Poet’s Market.

I tallied up, and Judson Jerome and I are tied for the most times our names appeared on the spine of Poet’s Market as editor (seven). In addition, I came in toward the end of the production cycle for the 2001 edition, and I’ve already done considerable planning and hands-on work on the upcoming 2009 edition. So it’s nice to think I was here long enough to leave my mark on the book.

Nancy certainly has left her mark on the book and World Class Poetry wishes her luck in her next endeavor.

Poetic Smiles And Cackles
Thanks Reb Livingston. This made her smile, it made me cackle out loud:

(rooted fool) If you continue to cut checks to have your poems treated like a little show dog up on a pedestal, to have the anus fur of your poems examined for dingleberries, to be tested for obedience, etc., than you are a sucker, a clown, and an asshole. And you can take that to the bank, you dentists in poets’ clothing. You simpering, obsequious chihuahuas.

Is it crass? Yes. And that’s what makes it so damn funny.

Thank God For The Videophone

A deaf poet and his partner practice via videophone because they live thousands of miles apart. Am I the only one who thinks this is really cool?

Words Of Wisdom From A Poet Who Knows

(Source) No other poet sounds like this. However adamant Oppen’s convictions, his meticulously shaped lines embody a music of deference–a constitutional unwillingness to dominate the world by virtue of having understood it. True poetry, says Oppen in an essay collected in Selected Prose, is written in “a language that tests itself.”

Taken from an excellent article in The Nation. George Oppen’s story is one worth telling over and over again. I have always felt that Communists in America got the shortest end of the stick. I’ve never had an affinity for their ideology, but I recognize their right to believe as they do. I’d never want to live under a Communist system no matter how benevolent.

Communists may have had a right to believe what they believed, but they weren’t allowed to live by that right. This is the great injustice done by the House Un-American Activities Committee. It is unfortunate that the un-Constitutional injustices, such as the deportation of Charlie Chaplin, were carried out by this group of elected representatives and given the name of a senator, Joseph McCarthy, who had nothing to do with it. McCarthy’s mission was to expose Communists within government. When he couldn’t produce any evidence to make his accusations stick, he was censured. His actions are a far cry different than what was done by the lower chamber in the name of patriotism.

If Oppen can teach us anything about poetry and politics, it’s to stand your ground. Whatever it is you believe, believe it with all your might, no matter how popular. Don’t be afraid to state it. And if you should be forced to live in exile for your beliefs, live boldly. God bless George Oppen.

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