"The Newer Critics" [by Jim Cummins]

The Newer Critics

They arrived at doubt
through an excess of certainty.
“Avuncular” was a dish
of humble pie for them.

They were the first generation
of new critics taught
by the first generation of new critics.
Their smiles were pointed.

They called a place like this
“Harvard on the Ohio”
and tried to get Hardy’s novels
into every conversation you had.

I’d say I liked Hardy’s poems
better, watch them flatten
their hands on their cheeks,
and swoon, like they’d wandered

into a painting by Munch.
They didn’t like Munch,
but recommended The Monk,
if you needed a trashy read.

-- Jim Cummins