Brigid Pegeen Kelly – The Orchard

Much talk about this book, and the poem Dragon. Surreal in mentation, great
grasp of moving from one image into another, some great end lines. Only half way
through at the moment and I was reading it in the dead of the night so maybe all
that talk of “mists”, “wolves” and “dawn” was just a bit much. My initial
response is that below the lovely surface, there isn’t much depth here. I don’t
sense any world-view, any real insights into “the way we are”, but then, maybe
thats just not the kind of poet she is. I will return

Todays Reading

Reading “Negative Capability: Contemporary American Poetry” by Linda Gregerson today. Mostly reviews published in Poetry and The Boston Review. The bottom line with her review and point of view (I think) is that clear old line between “Imagination” and “Fancy”. She also has a keen eye for the ethic underlying a poetic strategy.

HopeFully, Over Christmas

I will get to write up that Brenda Shaugnessy review. I’ve bought a bunch of other young contemporary US poets, but as of yet, none show the promise of “Interior With Sudden Joy”.