FRESNO, CA—Struggling through difficult times marked by war, economic despair, and political turmoil, the nation turned en masse this week to its newly appointed poet laureate, seeking solace in his words as so many generations of Americans have before in the words of laureates past.
Despondent citizens from across the country began gathering this weekend outside the Fresno home of 83-year-old Philip Levine, the California State University professor and poet who in less than two weeks will assume the widely celebrated title, beginning a yearlong term in which all Americans will turn their gaze upon him in search of hope and guidance.
How true. I have found myself turning to poetry in times of distress and there is so much of it right now what with high unemployment, a wobbly stock market, war, a second war, maybe a third, and the threat of NBA lockout. I agree with Chuck Burgess that Phil Levine's "subtle explorations of inferiority dispel the nation's fears in a way that nothing else can."
Posted by: Barney Greengrass | September 22, 2011 at 03:55 PM
I thought Terence Winch was the nation's poet laureate?
Posted by: Molly A. | September 22, 2011 at 04:49 PM
Gotta love The Onion.
Posted by: Damon McLaughlin | September 23, 2011 at 09:15 AM
I have found myself turning to poetry in times of distress and there is so much of it right now what with high unemployment, a wobbly stock market, war, a second war.. maybe a third, and the threat of NBA lockout.
Posted by: web design Landon | September 26, 2011 at 05:01 AM
I said interiority not inferiority.
Posted by: Chuck Burgess | September 26, 2011 at 12:42 PM