Pulitzer-winning poet laureate Mark Strand dead at 80

wfgodot · Nov 30, 2014

Good NYT piece:

Mark Strand, 80, Dies; Pulitzer-Winning Poet Laureate

Eating Poetry
BY MARK STRAND

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry.

The librarian does not believe what she sees.
Her eyes are sad
and she walks with her hands in her dress.

The poems are gone.
The light is dim.
The dogs are on the basement stairs and coming up.

Their eyeballs roll,
their blond legs burn like brush.
The poor librarian begins to stamp her feet and weep.

She does not understand.
When I get on my knees and lick her hand,
she screams.

I am a new man.
I snarl at her and bark.
I romp with joy in the bookish dark.

Mark Strand, former US poet laureate, dies aged 80

^ Guardian

Snoofo · Nov 30, 2014

The Times obit was very good. Comparing his poetry to De Chirico paintings, so apropos.

Nova · Dec 1, 2014

I never met Mr. Strand, but he was a mentor to two close friends of mine who are now published poets. They adored him, both as a poet and as a person.

wfgodot · Dec 1, 2014

"I romp with joy in the bookish dark."

Pulitzer-winning poet laureate Mark Strand dead at 80

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