If you can take his writing and editing aside, Lehman is a nice guy and
a good teacher. He runs (with Star Black) a decent reading series at
KGB in New York, not nearly as unwelcoming as in years past when it had
different organizers, and as far as I can tell, gives his all to his
students. I think of Lehman as Bizzaro William Matthews.
He does have an elliptical relationship with the New York School: with
so many of them still alive, to have written his recent book ... and
without Guest ...? When he came to LA, he read on the same night
Kenneth Koch read. Well, why hear David Lehman read when Kenneth Koch
is reading? I was one of maybe two dozen at the Koch reading (Mark
Salerno of Arshile was there), while the Lehman reading was sold out.
Plus, he only edits the Best series, not the volumes. Also, how can
Lehman have done a poem a day project without reference to Bernadette
Mayer, et.al.?
The Best series, well, there was a big debate on that, and it is in the
Boston Review archive online.
Rgds,
Catherine Daly
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