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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 86
Page 59
... poetic experience : " I see it based in a craving to get through the curtains of things as they appear , to things as they are , and then into the larger , wilder space of things as they are becoming . " That sentence contains the whole ...
... poetic experience : " I see it based in a craving to get through the curtains of things as they appear , to things as they are , and then into the larger , wilder space of things as they are becoming . " That sentence contains the whole ...
Page 63
... poetic ferment . There were many poets about , too many to name , and they gath- ered in small evening groups to read their poems aloud and fish for praise . There was much excitement about poetic drama , and verse - plays old and new ...
... poetic ferment . There were many poets about , too many to name , and they gath- ered in small evening groups to read their poems aloud and fish for praise . There was much excitement about poetic drama , and verse - plays old and new ...
Page 198
... poetic " renaissance , " developing in many modes , had brought forward a corps of expert practitioners of the lyric ... poetic themes . " But Van Doren also firmly states that Eliot is " one of the finest of twentieth century poets ...
... poetic " renaissance , " developing in many modes , had brought forward a corps of expert practitioners of the lyric ... poetic themes . " But Van Doren also firmly states that Eliot is " one of the finest of twentieth century poets ...
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