Philip Levine on Lowell and Berryman
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- Опубліковано 26 лис 2009
- Philip Levine in conversation with Naomi Jaffa at Aldeburgh Poetry Festival in November 2009. In this excerpt from their discussion, Levine talks about being taught first by Robert Lowell and then by John Berryman at the University of Iowa, where his classmates included Donald Justice, W.D. Snodgrass and Henri Coulette. Levine says a lot more about having Berryman and Yvor Winters as mentors in his memoir THE BREAD OF TIME (1994/2002). His poetry is published in Britain by Bloodaxe Books in STRANGER TO NOTHING: SELECTED POEMS:
www.bloodaxebooks.com/titlepag...
This discussion was organised by the Poetry Trust as part of the 2009 Aldeburgh Poetry Festival:
www.thepoetrytrust.org
Believe it or not, I was a young intellectualist during 1970, when I sat in one of John Berryman's classes at the University of Minnesota. Meeting him changed my life, and he became my muse, capturing my youthful, idealistic heart. I still curse and bless him for leaving us too early. Thank you for sharing your delicious experiences of John with a new generation of poetry lovers!
I fondly remember stories of Philip Levine told by my professor Norman Dubie, who is also gone now.
are you john berryman? no.. then it must be me.. that’s perfect berryman humour..
Listening to Phil, I realize how much I miss him. I was fortunate to take him for advanced poetry writing for five semesters at Fresno State, from about 1979 to about 1985 (How did I do that and get credit? Read your college catalog and you'll find a way). Over those years he became my main mentor. Occasionally I would house sit for him and Fran when they would travel abroad, and Fran died just a few months ago. I always enjoyed being around him, for Phil's irreverent humor and wit were second to none. Just as Berryman was Phil's great teacher, Phil was my one great teacher. This world is a fine place partly because Phil opened my eyes and heart to it, but for me this world is somewhat diminished without him. Fate must have allowed me to come across this video by accident--I didn't look for it--but I suspect it's one of those gifts we receive when we least expect it and need it more than we know.
Great anecdotes, and then he spoils it with the remark about "anti-communist" nonsense." We were told that it was nonsense for three generations, e.g., that Hiss's being a spy was nonsense. The Soviet records says something else.
I miss Phil. Greatest teacher I've ever had, in any field, hands down.
Phil looks and sounds fantastic. I am not exaggerating when I say he speaks with as much vim & vigor as he did in 1989, when he was my teacher at Fresno State.
Thank you for this.
This was absolutely fascinating and lovely. Thank you for preserving it.
This is phenomenal.
Thank you for posting this, hemu1en.