Arnon Grunberg

Forever young

Millions of copies

The poet C.D. Wright was unknown to me, until I read about her in today’s NY Times Book Review.
After the writer’s conference in Romania, which was dominated by poets my interest in poetry is on the march.
When I was seventeen I used to like the German poet Erich Fried, who was specialized in love poems and agitprop.
A reviewer once said to me about Fried: “He sold millions of copies and a poet who sells well is probably a bad poet.” The book review today quoted a poem by C.D. Wright about Iraq, hence the connection with Erich Fried: “Floods of feelings
 militarize our nights currents of solitude cordon off
 our days Oct 16 the famous Carousel Bar reopened 
in the Crescent City customers resumed drinking 
revolving and sinking Providence continues to launch 
hurtle hurl its leaves And as of Sat Nov 12 
according to the Associated Press 2,066
of our members will remain Forever Young
 O when the saints go
 marching

 At the level of policy their kids don’t exist
never did will never reach the sun-drenched shore
 and now it’s Monday again”

(Go to the NY Times to read the poem in the format intended by the poet.)

I’m not against engagement, but I wonder if good intentions are the enemy of poetry.