>"Poetry is energy, it is an energy-storing and an energy-releasing device."
>—*Miroslav Holub*
I hadn't encountered MH's formulation previously, & it rhymes a bit with EP's elaboration on his
classic
dichten=condensare
>"Poetry: three mismatched shoes at the entrance of a dark alley."
>—*Charles Simic*
Simic's shoes and taste matched the conservative footprints of previous consultants in poetry at
the Library of Congress. He entered thru bright lights & metal detectors like anyone else walking
into either of the LC's buildings, and won't be back for a second year--reportedly because it was
too difficult for him to travel from his home in New Hampshire to his office in WASH DC.
Fifteen candidates will be selected by Gioia, Simic, and previous consultants. The Librarian of
Congress, James Billington, will make his final selection from that list. Place your bets now. I'm
guessing Jorie Graham, but I was wrong about Frank Bidart last year.
Barry Alpert
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