To Frank: David knew I was going to review his books. He was the one who
sent them to me (at my request) because I had seen his name again on the
web--including at your site, Frank. I thought that Mary Sands, who appears
to know David, would have informed him of its existence. I've been a fan of
David's writing since c. 1979, when I saw some of it in Dave Cunliffe's
Global Tapestry Journal. Whether I'm "mistaken" about David Gitin's work or
not, I'm happy that more is being said about what he did/does with language.
Please disagree with me, Frank! It would be great if everyone disagreed and
everyone then sat down and wrote and published their own response to Gitin's
poems, because more people would then perhaps seek out his books.
Unfortunately, scrunching excerpts from David's poems into a small space on
the web, as in the review excerpts, does not give a feeling of proper
spacing. This "eye silence" is one of the things necessary for a true
appreciation of his poems. I don't think Mary Sands set up that first poem
that I mention in my review very well. (Actually, we had exchanged an
e-mail or two about that.)
Be that as it may, I was led to my "lesser work" remark for the later book
and pamphlet, because I detected a less adventurous use of language and
spacing there. It was a bit like watching a fine dancer on an off day.
Some of the excerpts that you cite, Frank, contain examples of what I can
only call trite language. And more examples exist in those books. Whether
"cliches are the armature of heaven" as I think Alfred Jarry once said, I
still believe that a poet's responsibility is to make it new. Many of
those poems in Sunlight and in the thin Blue Winds Press Book simply don't
do that in my opinion.
Let's agree to disagree, Frank.
But let's both extend an invitation to the readers on this list to take a
look at David Gitin's books for yourselves. He really is quite fine. Tell
David hello from me, by the way. Thanks! Jesse
About Jesse Glass. How to order his books.
http://www.letterwriter.net/html/jesse-glass.html
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