[Marcia Karp]

Charles Simic's poem in the December 1 New York Review of Books is quite wonderful. It is called "The Lights are on Everywhere," and it is humbling to read.

Best,
Marcia

[Mary Meriam]

Hi Marcia
What did you find humbling about the Simic poem? I haven't read it, but would be interested in hearing your thoughts. Here's a poem I love by Charlotte Mew.
Mary

Absence

Sometimes I know the way
You walk, up over the bay;
It is a wind from the far sea
That blows the fragrance of your hair to me.

Or in this garden when the breeze
Touches my trees
To stir their dreaming shadows on the grass
I see you pass.

In sheltered beds, the heart of every rose
Serenely sleeps tonight. As shut as those
Your guarded heart; as safe as they from the beat, beat
Of hooves that tread dropped roses in the street.

Turn never again
On these eyes blind with a wild rain
Your eyes; they were stars to me.—
There are things stars may not see.

But call, call, and though Christ stands
Still with scarred hands
Over my mouth, I must answer. So
I will come—He shall let me go!

~Charlotte Mew

[Marcia Karp]

Dear Mary,

There are too many awful poems that take the current mess of the world as subject; Simic's poem is not awful, not just not awful, but a reminder of how rare a real poem is. (Humbling to me.) It's hard to talk about the poem without my quoting the whole thing and I think the NYRB wouldn't like me to do that. Go get it.

Best,
Marcia

Charlotte Mew was just mentioned to me, but I haven't yet read more than a few of hers I've stumbled over over the years. Thanks for this.

[Richard Wakefield]

Marcia:
I agree with your observation that "there are too many awful poems that take the current mess of the world as subject." You could probably add that there are also too many poems that take the current mess of the poet's life as subject. Maybe it's because those enormous, immediate crises provoke more or less programed responses.
In any case, I'd be very interested in your speculations on how Simic's (or anyone else's) poem avoids the ordinary awfulness. Or maybe, if a successful poem is one that avoids programed response, then its success can be explained in general terms...
Richard

[David Mason]

I'll just chime in to say I think the Simic poem in the Dec 1st NY Review of Books is a damned good example of political poetry. Rather than whining about the Bush administration, Simic couches his anger at abuses of power in broader and more universal terms. It's brief, to the point, very well focussed and very effective. I guess I'd be violating copyright if I typed it out here, so I encourage folks to look it up.

[This message has been edited by David Mason (edited December 31, 2005).]

[wendy v]

I'd love to see the Simic. But alas.
Could somebody pm it my way ?

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

Wouldn't be fair use to post it here for literary discussion?

[Marcia Karp]

Dear Richard,

aaaI agree with you that the life of the poet (and any other concern) might result in an awful poem, but I mentioned only the sort that matters to Simic's. I'm afraid I can't have abstract responses as to the reasons poems either are or are not good. About the best I can do is say that the best poems are made of all necessary elements, based on the rules established by the poem, and none that aren't.


Dear Jerry,
aaaIt hardly seems fair use, at this stage in the poem's public life, to post it for the world to have access to. On some sites that would be called publishing, but one of the moderators must have the rules at hand.

Best,
Marcia

[winter]

You can read the poem by paying $3 for it to the New York Review of Books by clicking on the Simic poem at this link .

[This message has been edited by winter (edited January 01, 2006).]

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

I'm forced to agree with David. It is a nice piece of political poetry that avoids bashing, ranting and whining, making a quiet, coherent and effective argument that's difficult to debate.

Thanks, Marcia.

[This message has been edited by Jerry Glenn Hartwig (edited January 03, 2006).]