Adam and Eady

A few weeks ago I commented on a funny little poem by Les Murray in the New Yorker, as well as on the other poem in the same issue, by Joni Mitchell (!).

I just saw the links for the two poems in the latest issue, so I thought I would check them out to see if the current issue looks any better, poem-wise.

One is by Adam Zagajewski, "Karmelicka" (translated by Clare Cavanagh); the other is by Cornelius Eady, "Handymen."

A much better pair (though still not brilliant) than the quite funny but quite flimsy Murray poem and the lyric by Joni.

By the way, the issue is, as far as I know, still under the aegis of poetry editor Alice Quinn (and not yet a playground for Paul Muldoon).

Funny Les

Here's a funny little poem by Les Murray, from the latest New Yorker.

The issue also contains a poem by Joni Mitchell. It shows that, while song lyrics are poems, they are not automatically good poems ...

Hejira

I went to Staten Island, Sharon,
to buy myself a mandolin.

(Joni Mitchell, "Song for Sharon," Hejira)

I have not listened to this album for ages; in fact, it's the only Joni CD I own. So brilliant to hear it again, one that I listened to all the time in the eighties. I don't think it is entirely to everyone's taste, as it is quite melancholy, but it's right up my own alley (where a cheerful person who has melancholy tastes lives).

I'll jam with Joni on mandolins any time she likes!