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Larkin, Uncensored (On Human Bondage)
Larkin wrote this poem — which he characterized as a "cri du cock" — in 1943, when he was 21: I would give all I possess(money, keep, wallet, personal effects, and articles of dress)To…
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Happy 25th Birthday Best American Poetry: Save the Dates for Launch Readings in Boston and NYC
Available for pre-order: Launch readings hosted by David Lehman and Robert Pinsky and featuring poets included in this volume: April 4, 6:00 PM: Metcalf Building, George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, Second Floor, Boston,…
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Ammons 5: Speaking [by Roger Gilbert]
For my last post on Ammons, I thought I’d discuss the textual history of one of his very late poems, “Speaking.” Our genial host here at The Best American Poetry blog, David Lehman, arranged…
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Larkin, Uncensored (On Donald Davie)
To the tune of "Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do," this 1974 epistle (unsent) to Professsor Donald Davie: Davie, Davie,Give me a bad review;That's your gravy,Telling chaps what to do.Forget about style and…
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The Quotidian, Notebooks, Diaries, and Journals by Elaine Fletcher Chapman
When at home, I arrive at my desk at the appointed time, search for my fountain pen, locate my notebook and begin with date, location, the time of day, and sometimes the weather. Often…
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Ammons 4: The Hermit Lark [by Roger Gilbert]
Yesterday I wrote about Ammons’s poem “Mechanism,” an exploration of the inner workings of a goldfinch. Ammons wrote about many other birds as well, including blue jays, swallows, terns, and…
