Brief Summary: Kinnell talks about the creative process, his use of metaphor and imagery, how a poem takes its own direction, how it can become a personal myth, how writing is self-exploration, and how that is tied to his own personal philosophy of being "one with the cosmos." He discusses aesthetics, talks about what makes a good war poem, and briefly talks about the audience for and the role of poetry in social issues.

Work(s) Discussed:

• "The Porcupine"
• Body Rags

Work(s) Read:

• "How Many Nights"
• "Vapor Trail Reflected in the Frog Pond"
• "Another Night in the Ruins"
• (last stanza) "The Bear"

Writers mentioned:

• Robert Bly
• W. S. Merwin
• Robert Duncan
• Denise Levertov
• Gary Snyder
• Etheridge Knight.

Ordering Information

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