Philip Levine Is the New U.S. Poet Laureate

August 9, 2011 by PaulM Posted in Culture, History, Lowell, Poetry 2 Comments

Poetry is front-page news online tonight. That’s different. The NYTimes tonight reports that Philip Levine is the new U.S. Poet Laureate.  Read Charles McGrath’s article here, and get the NYT if you want more.

Phil Levine was one of my poet-heroes when I started writing in the mid-1970s. I admired his ability to be literary and intellectually serious in his compositions while gripping firmly his working-class roots. He made poetry out of a world that was familiar to me and very American. I have many of his books, but one is special because he signed it for me and added the words “With hope for poetry.”

He’s from Detroit, which seems to be having some kind of moment. The car-makers are off life-support, the city got showcased in the cool and smooth “Imported from Detroit” TV ads that premiered on the Super Bowl broadcast, and now the Poet Laureate is from Detroit. Maybe we can lure him to Lowell to follow up the appearance of Poet Laureate Kay Ryan at UMass Lowell last April. Detroit is not out of the economic woods, but the attitude appears to be improving. Levine taught at California State University at Fresno for most of his career.

Here’s a NYT link to samples of Levine’s poetry.

 

Web photo by Jim Wilson, courtesy of NYTimes.

 

2 Responses to Philip Levine Is the New U.S. Poet Laureate

  1. Dan Murphy says:

    Paul,

    I had lunch with Levine when I was a student in the Creative Writing program at Emory University. He was very witty and self-deprecating, as he is in his poetry. His ascension to Poet Laureate is quite fitting at this point in American history, being a champion of sorts for the worker.

  2. PaulM says:

    I agree about the timing, Dan. Maybe Phil will lead a revolution from Fresno. It may be his secret wish.