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Peter, Yes, I certainly did see that. I would say JHP's deep learning and genius in poetry is one thing; his socialist politics, such as they are (he himself admits they are not very consistent), another. You know, Stalin, too, in the period before Lenin's first stroke seemed like a tough but pretty principled guy, relatively speaking. Would one say, in hindsight, Well, I liked the Stalin before he disappointed my trust and erased millions, including the near entire core of the revolution? (Revealing, in regards Mao, early or late, that despite some first-stage disagreements, Stalin's position as Communist hero has never been withdrawn by the CCP.) >>> Peter Riley <[log in to unmask]> 09/26/16 6:59 AM >>> I think if you look at the full text of the interview, JHP is specific as to "which" Mao he gives homage to, basically the early projects and vision of a possible society. (If I recall correctly Jack Spicer spoke admiringly of Mao as a poet. There used to be a Maoist bookshop at the lower end of Camden Town Road in the 1960s where I bought my copy of the Little Red Book - it was all part of the "thing".) pr On 23 Sep 2016, at 19:33, Kent Johnson wrote: Homage to J.H. Prynne http://dispatchespoetry.com/articles/dispatches