David Orr on JA for the New York Times

Here is David Orr's appraisal of John Ashbery, and here is the obituary he composed for the paper.of record. Tothe left is a photo from the 2011 poetry forum featuring John as guest of honor at the New School. Photo by Steaphanie Paterik (c. 2011).

<<<

. . .much of life is lived at room temperature. Much of life consists of quiet, musing moments when we seem to drift outside ourselves; moments on trains staring out the window; moments when we are half-awake, half-asleep; moments when we look at something so beautiful or surprising that we wonder, briefly, who we are. This is the feeling Ashbery gives his readers. It is a gift to cherish.

-- David Orr

>>>