Sad news. One of the great 20th century American poets, Adrienne Rich, has died. Few others matched her integrity, sense of vision and vocation, political concern, and ability as poet, writer and critic. Her greatest work, for me, remains Diving Into The Wreck, of forty years ago. As a young poet, that was a touchstone collection for me. Her essays on poetry and politics were also inspirational. The world has lost a major figure.
A poem for my mother, July 15 When she was dying And I was in a different country I dreamt I was there with her Flying over the ocean very quickly, And arriving in the room like a dream And I was a dream, but the meaning was more Than a dream has – it was a moving over time And land, over water, to get love across Fast enough, to be there, before she died, To lean over the small, huddled figure, In the dark, and without bothering her Even with apologies, and be a kiss in the air, A dream of a kiss, or even less, the thought of one, And when I woke, none of this had happened, She was still far distant, and we had not spoken.
Comments
Yes, sad news but she was 82 which is pretty old for a poet!
Best wishes from Simon