The Catbird's Song: Prose Pieces, 1963-1995The Catbird's Song is a selection of prose pieces, on a variety of topics, by one of the most distinguished poets and translators of our times, Richard Wilbur. These lectures, letters, reviews, addresses, prefaces, and interviews-what Wilbur calls the "prose by-products of a poet's life"-not only reveal the ideas and concerns that inform his remarkable oeuvre but also offer fresh takes on the works and lives of poets we thought we knew, poets we ought to know, and much more. Here, then, are his appreciations of Poe, Milton, Tennyson, and Longfellow; paeans to his contemporaries Elizabeth Bishop, Mae Swenson, and John Ciardi; an introduction to the work of the neglected poet Witter Bynner; his comments on some of his own poems; and thoughts on the art of translation. Throughout all, Wilbur's voice resonates with clarity, reason, and authority. |
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Page 4
... ( line 23 ) brilliantly crowns a de- scription in which the waterfowl is not an illustration but a living fact . There are many more things to praise here , but I shall mention just one : the way that deep calls 4 THE CATBIRD'S SONG.
... ( line 23 ) brilliantly crowns a de- scription in which the waterfowl is not an illustration but a living fact . There are many more things to praise here , but I shall mention just one : the way that deep calls 4 THE CATBIRD'S SONG.
Page 50
... living modern form . We all know the exquisite hum- mingbird riddle which begins " A route of Evanescence / With a revolving Wheel , " and there are others - about frost , or a snake , or a railroad train - which are frequently met in ...
... living modern form . We all know the exquisite hum- mingbird riddle which begins " A route of Evanescence / With a revolving Wheel , " and there are others - about frost , or a snake , or a railroad train - which are frequently met in ...
Page 198
... living American poet . But a page in The Nation of June 9 , 1926 , indicates how things were going to go . At the bottom of the left - hand column is an agreeable and clever poem by Bynner in which , likening the repose of a quiet café ...
... living American poet . But a page in The Nation of June 9 , 1926 , indicates how things were going to go . At the bottom of the left - hand column is an agreeable and clever poem by Bynner in which , likening the repose of a quiet café ...
Contents
Poe and the Art of Suggestion | 7 |
Longfellow | 26 |
The Persistence of Riddles | 32 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
American answer appear asked beauty become begins bird Bynner called clear close continually course critic dark death described dream Earth effect Eleonora English enigma example experience expression fact feel figure final give given hand hear heart heaven human idea imaginative John kind knowledge language later leaves less letter light lines living look lyric matter mean memory mind nature never notes object once passion perhaps plays pleasure Poe's poem poet poet's poetic poetry possible present questions reader reason rhyme riddle seems seen sense Song sort soul sound speaks spirit story suggestion sure tells things thought translation trees turn Ulysses verse voice whole wish writing written wrote