I again mention it in my recent overview of my writings on Van Morrison in the 2020s. I (very briefly) say its one of the few works of poetic artistry to really grapple with the era, making it like Morrison's songs of '20-'22. It goes without saying that its words are more crafted and thoughtful than what Morrison was aiming at in his songs. https://dissidentcon.substack.com/p/van-morrison-in-the-2020s
Thanks again Carl. As you've read in my Introduction to Pole Shift, I've long been a proponent of a "poetry of relevance" that attempts to grapple with and record in verse the pressing issues of the day, the zeitgeist. Too much of contemporary poetry has been reduced to navel gazing. Future readers of poetry (if there are any) would never know Covid-19 happened, judging by the current output of most literary authors and poets. The comparison with Van Morrison is deeply flattering! His Latest Record Project was a bold act of artistic courage that came as a deep healing balm to me when it was released during the darkest days of the lockdowns. It didn't need to say "joy" in order to create it. Both a creative and a polemic triumph in my critical opinion.
Astonishing review! And well deserved. Congratulations.
I again mention it in my recent overview of my writings on Van Morrison in the 2020s. I (very briefly) say its one of the few works of poetic artistry to really grapple with the era, making it like Morrison's songs of '20-'22. It goes without saying that its words are more crafted and thoughtful than what Morrison was aiming at in his songs. https://dissidentcon.substack.com/p/van-morrison-in-the-2020s
Thanks again Carl. As you've read in my Introduction to Pole Shift, I've long been a proponent of a "poetry of relevance" that attempts to grapple with and record in verse the pressing issues of the day, the zeitgeist. Too much of contemporary poetry has been reduced to navel gazing. Future readers of poetry (if there are any) would never know Covid-19 happened, judging by the current output of most literary authors and poets. The comparison with Van Morrison is deeply flattering! His Latest Record Project was a bold act of artistic courage that came as a deep healing balm to me when it was released during the darkest days of the lockdowns. It didn't need to say "joy" in order to create it. Both a creative and a polemic triumph in my critical opinion.