- Description
A conversation with poet laureate Robert Pinsky about the nature and state of poetry in modern times. He also discusses the anthology of his work The Figured Wheel: New and Collected Poems, 1966-1996 , and his translation of Dante's "Inferno".
- Keywords:
- poet laureate
- Robert Pinsky
- modern poetry
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Robert L. Oakes 09/11/2007 09:53 PM Report
It's difficult not to fall in love with this ever so gentle and articulate man, just as it is with the words and ideas of his poetry.
This is a marvelous little interview where Charlie probes Pinsky on his ideas about the relevancy of poetry in contemporary American society. Pinsky tells us about his work with the Favorite Poem Project and about the physical experience of speaking words of great meaning and delight and the physical experience of receiving those words. He tells us that itâ??s the voice of the speaker and the body of the audience hearing those words that is â??the medium of the poet.â?? They discuss the impact of mass media on the resurgence of poetry as an authentic personal experience. There are also two wonderful moments when Charlie breaks away to revisit past interviews with Maya Angelou and Allen Ginsburg.
Pinksy tells us a little bit about his lower-middle class background and his early love of creating music with words. We learn about some of the poets he loves and he recites the final stanza from Yeats' "Sailing to Byzantium."
This is a rewarding and moving interview for anyone who loves the spoken word.