Charles Martin on 9/11
 

Please forgive (& feel free to fuse threads) if this appeared previously, but I just ran across this brief newspaper piece on Charles Martin's "After 9/11." The poem is also in his new book Signs & Wonders.

The book is impressive, as you'd expect; but the poem is one of the best I've read on 9/11, period: restrained and deeply moving.

Here's the article; the link to the poem is about halfway down the profile in which the poet talks about the challenge the subject posed. Thanks.

http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainme...9/post_58.html

Thank you, Ned, for posting this. I've printed it out as it needs to be read with reflection and for me, paper provides more room for contemplation than than a screen does.

I've also put the book on my "to buy" list. Thank you.

(PS. Your book finally arrived. I haven't opened it yet, I don't want to read it when I am stressed for time--that would be like eating a gourmet meal when rushing down the street to keep an appointment. But I will savor it and am looking forward to it.)

For about 6 semesters now, I've been doing close readings of this poem with my students. It really is a great poem. I'm still learning from it.

Hi Ned

Many thanks for sharing Charles Martin's wonderful 9/11 poem with us, Ned.

Best regards

Chris

You've got that right Ned. Charles' poem dwarfs anything else written about 9/11. I've treasured it for nine years. He's just mailed me the new book, and I'll comment on it when I've read it. High expectations!

How would you know that?

A magnificent and heartbreaking poem. Thanks for posting it.

Anything else I've seen, Quincy, and I pay attention. Actually, Paul Lake's Charlemagne's Vision runs a close second, so I retract the verb "dwarfs." I think Charles' poem appeared in the Hudson Review, and I still remember my excitement at reading it.

Oh, don't get me wrong--I like the Martin poem. But "dwarfs"? Not a chance.

Ahem - maybe I can get us back on track by noting that Signs and Wonders really is wonderful - lots of good stuff to be found there, well worth adding to your shopping lists.

Frank