I am in a Zukofsky & Niedecker reading group. As we move along in Z's "A" -
his major work written over 40 years (varying from accessible to opaque, but
a verse constantly experimenting and engaging, and certainly the most
challenging of the Objectivists), I find it absolutely refreshing to vary
the reading back and forth with the associates (Geoge Oppen, Charles
Reznikoff, Lorine Niedecker, and Carl Rakowsi - the last to pass among the
group this past year 100 years). What they share aesthetically may not be
transparent - different in many ways in language and style as they are from
mandarin to practically homespun - is a shared nakedness, which is to say a
fresh and constant sense of discovery that combines a sense of moral
obligation to re-freshen the well of looking and one's aesthetic and
responsibility within the space in which one lives.
Variously they have all been a great example and resource to myself and my
work.
Stephen V
Who - if you are in the now very warm and spring Bay Area - give a house-
reading this evening at 7:30 (potluck) David Habadnik's home. Public trans:
From downtown San Francisco, take
the 38 Geary or the 31 Balboa, and get off at 35th
Ave. Driving from the East Bay: 580 West to 9th
St./Civic Center exit; north on 9th to Hayes;
follow signs to go west on Fell; turn right on
Stanyan, left on Fulton, right on 35th (Balboa is
two blocks north). My building is the big one on
the northwest corner of 35th at Balboa. Ring the
buzzer for apartment 204. NOTE: the phone will be
turned off after 8pm, so don't be late!!!
Blog: http://stephenvincent.durationpress.com
> I'll second that. Davidson did a beautiful job. And Of Being Numerous
> should be required reading--not just the long title poem, but the whole
> volume.
>
> That list of Objectivist poets should include Lorine Niedecker, who was
> included in by Zukofsky, inventor of the name. All five amazing poets, all
> coming to reputations late even within the US and increasingly influential
> in this last 30 years. It didn't help their early reception here that they
> were committed to far-left politics.
>
> Mark
>
>
> At 09:02 AM 3/11/2005, you wrote:
>> Alison, I highly recommend the latest collection:
>>
>> George Oppen: New Collected Poems
>> Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation (February, 2002)
>> ISBN: 0811214885
>>
>> From Publishers Weekly
>> A Modernist who was part of the Objectivist group that included Charles
>> Reznikoff, Louis Zukofsky and Carl Rakosi, George Oppen (1908-1984) won a
>> Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his masterpiece, Of Being Numerous. New Collected
>> Poems gathers that work, along with some missing from the 1975 Collected.
>> Edited by poet Michael Davidson, it includes Primitive (the last volume
>> Oppen published, in 1978) as well as previously unpublished work. Admirers
>> of Oppen's foundational volumes should be very pleased with this update.
>>
>> ***************************
>> Frank Parker
>> [log in to unmask]
>> http://frankshome.org
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Alison Croggon" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 3:02 AM
>> Subject: Re: Litter Magazine
>>
>>
>>> I've had a pleasant read through Litter too - particularly liked the essay
>>> on Oppen, whom I must read more of -
>>>
>>> Best
>>>
>>> A
>>>
>>>
>>> Alison Croggon
>>>
>>> Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
>>> Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
>>> Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
>>>
>>>
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