[New-Poetry] Why Bly

[JforJames at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/4/2006 4:03:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,  
grahamd at ripon.edu writes:

I've  taught *News of the Universe* a number of times; while his literary and 
social  history sometimes needs to be taken with a grain of salt, his taste 
in poetry  is really fine


Yes, I think Bly, with books like this and others, was largely  responsible
for increasing interest in poetry in translation. However liberal his  own
translations were, I think many international (panhistoriic) poets  were
first introduced to US readers by Bly. And those translations/poets changed  
contemporary US poetry during the 70s and 80s especially.
 
His readings were often more like one-man shows (bazooki in  hand) 
and I found him a captivating character. I learned a lot from him...not  
something I can say about many other poets who I have heard read.
 
Another book/essay  that I htink has held up well is "Leaping Poetry."  
Probably one of the better explanation of the ineffable powers  of lyric poetry 
that I've seen.
Finnegan
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