The previous narrator demanded changes to his contract and has walked off the set. We have brought in his understudy, former public radio personality, Keith Henty. The operative word there is “former” so that’s why he was available to fill in today. Thank you and enjoy the show.
Writers
A poet, a pure one, W.S. Merwin
Words of evanescent enchantment
If ever there were one, a modern day Merlin
And a master of sensual enjamb
ment
For unemotional poetry he held a certain wrath:
Its “rigid impersonality” mediocre
Alvarez celebrated Sexton and Plath
(He also wrote the best book on poker)
Toni Morrison – I’ve got nothing to say
There just aren’t words so I won’t take a chance
Instead I’ll swerve in a quite different way
The un-novel novels of one Judith Krantz
Her characters horizontally tangled
Then after that they liked to shop
Who cares if her writing was miserably mangled?
Well, I guess God, because he said “STOP”!
Good gracious I’m graceless and ever so catty
How terribly tasteless to speak ill of the dead
She sold 85 million copies – how can that be?
I’m sensing envy – unknown and unread
Harold Bloom, a critic, acidic, intelligence rare
When he entered a room he took up the air
Of white dead male writers a devoted disciple
But thought it was a woman who authored the Bible
With Abbie and Jerry he founded the Yippies
And when labeled the father of the underground press
(The Realist was rebelliously trippy)
Paul Krassner asked for a paternity test
Peachtree Road residents are sighing
For Anne Rivers Siddons who wrote of the new south
Ernest Gaines had A Lesson Before Dying
John Simon closed his big rude mouth
Clive James literary critic seriously fun
A style analytic and yet could blister
“Shatner’s acting technique was picked up from someone
who once worked with somebody who knew Lee Strasberg’s sister.”
Likened to Dickinson, Whitman and Frost
“I made a world of words as my salvation”
Mary Oliver lifts us when we are lost
“I was a bride married to amazement”
So often I am startled by the genius of you. If you ever find yourself a poor waif, there will always be room for you wherever I am.
Oh Lis you are great! I really look forward to your responses! And thanks..waif-dom may be in my future
Good finale, Denny!
Critique? Haven’t any.
thanks!!
Sad that we’ve lost so many brilliant people in just. one. year. But amazing that so many humans keep on creating! Thank you for your heartfelt tribute Denny.
thanks so much – I know…humans are pretty impressive