Like I said, I'm reading slowly these days. Short-attention span reading suits me better, but magazines and weblogs don't always provide enough nourishment. Poetry is good, and I am rediscovering some favorites, like Edna St. Vincent Millay, and I am glad to see that so many schools have information online these days, and provide biographies for poets like her.
If you haven't met, let me introduce you to "First Fig" and "Second Fig".
First Fig
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—
It gives a lovely light.
Second Fig
Safe upon the solid rock the ugly houses stand:
Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand!
My shining palace built upon the sand ... what an image. And wasn't I just talking about the palace of my heart?
Did I ever tell you that Edna and I used to date in high school? Seriously, I consider her just about the only competent practitioner of the Sonnet form in the 20th century. Her Fatal Interview cycle is always worth reading and rereading.
Check out the bio Savage Beauty.
Posted by: Joel | May 29, 2005 at 10:04 PM
Ha! Those are so great. I need to read some of that. My mother in law sent me a book of hers once for xmas.
Posted by: Jo | May 30, 2005 at 07:59 AM
There's always Rilke for sonnets too ... albeit in German. And, in my (take your pick here) humble/snooty opinion, untranslateable.
Posted by: Elkit | May 30, 2005 at 08:30 PM
I am in no position to judge Rilke or anything written in German. I'm an American, remember?
Posted by: Joel | May 31, 2005 at 09:40 PM