[New-Poetry] Simic Stepping Down

[judy prince]

Howzis, jforjamesFinnegan (I guess--as am new on new-po)?  

Chuck the word "laureate" from the position, recognise that it's a job like any other (i.e., with work to do and pay to get) and that it deserves publicity for worker and craft.  Then go ahead and democratise the role:  hire a poet a week.  

Further, why do we approve the prostitution of poets and poetry by fawning over the hierarch-imposing circus of competitions and awards?  Wot are those events proving to us?  Wot are they demonstrating to poetry-appreciators and would-be poets?  I've wondered why +art forms+ "need" the delusive boost of competition.  Slightly reconfiguring the old patron networks, our corporations and individuals (with all the charitable feeling of missionaries <g>) promote art-ists through the twinned tactics of our society:  war and capitalism.  I'd thought that art might, rather, be the saddle-burr as well as the Necessary Oasis.  

Judy


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: jforjames at aol.com 
  To: new-poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu 
  Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 4:05 PM
  Subject: Re: [New-Poetry] Simic Stepping Down


  I'd like to see the post be given to a woman, preferably in 45-70 year old range. Not too young, because
  there are too many visible and interesting poets and time will be needed to sort things out. Not too old
  because I think it's become an emissary position, and even an activist one. 
  Jane Hirshfield, Jorie Graham, Alice Notley would be good short list  (all for different reasons)

  Or to a Language Poet for something completely different: Hejinian, Silliman, Bernstein...could be fun to watch.

  Finnegan


  -----Original Message-----
  From: Jeff Newberry <jeff.newberry at gmail.com>
  To: NewPoetry <new-poetry at wiz.cath.vt.edu>
  Sent: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 8:31 pm
  Subject: [New-Poetry] Simic Stepping Down


  Simic stepping aside as U.S. poet laureate

  Published: April 29, 2008 at 2:39 PM

  WASHINGTON, April 29 (UPI) -- A lecture on poetry translation will be the final time Charles Simic speaks as U.S. poet laureate, the Library of Congress said.

  "I've thoroughly enjoyed this past year," Simic said in a news release. "The best part of being poet laureate of the United States is working with the fine, dedicated and learned people at the Library (of Congress)."

  http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Entertainment/2008/04/29/simic_stepping_aside_as_us_poet_laureate/7748/



  Who's on deck?  Anyone know?

  Got this story via The Poetry Hut (http://www.poetryhut.com/wordpress/)

  Best,

  Jeff Newberry

  -- 
  "Why are you wearing that stupid *man* suit?"

  http://museoffireblog.blogspot.com 
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