Dana Gioia may be one of the most productive writers / poets working today. He has six poetry collections, seven essay collections, two translations (Italian and Latin), four opera libretti, 11 books for which he’s served as editor, and a contributor to several collections of essays and poems.
He came to poetry indirectly – through a 15-year business career. Yes, he quit cold turkey, to focus on poetry and writing. He was associated with New Formalism, which in the 1990s was considered counter cultural (poetry with rhyme and meter, and narrative poetry, were considered rather passe). He was named poet laureate of California. He was chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts; he championed poetry during his tenure. The recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, he’s also received 10 honorary doctorates.
In short, Gioia is a presence In American poetry. And he’s in an ideal position to produce a collection of essays entitled Poetry as Enchantment.
Some Thursday Readings
The Norwegian Chesterton: A Brief Introduction to Sigrid Unset – David Deavel at The Imaginative Conservative.
“Moonlight, Summer Moonlight,” poem by Emily Bronte – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.
Elderflower – poem by David Whyte.
Poets on Translation: Otherwise the Same – Geoffrey Brock at Poetry.
No comments:
Post a Comment