Robert Bly (1926-2021)

[Bartleby]

American poet, author, and translator Robert Bly died, at 94.

I remember reading some of his translations of Tranströmer poems, and, although very different from the version contained in the Swedish poet's collected works, they read quite beautifully lush and sensual. The two poets were friends it seems, a book of letters they wrote to each other having been published.

R.I.P.

 

[Benny Profane]

A great translator, a true supporter of latin poetry and my mentor in technics of translation! Rest in Peace!

 

[Leseratte]

An article about Bly I found informative and interesting, as I didn´t know anything about him.

Robert Bly obituary

Influential American poet with an abiding interest in mysticism and the nature of masculinity

www.theguardian.com

And a poem:
Wanting Sumptuous Heavens

No one grumbles among the oyster clans,
And lobsters play their bone guitars all summer.
Only we, with our opposable thumbs, want
Heaven to be, and God to come, again.
There is no end to our grumbling; we want
Comfortable earth and sumptuous Heaven.
But the heron standing on one leg in the bog
Drinks his dark rum all day, and is content.

Wanting Sumptuous Heavens - Wanting Sumptuous Heavens Poem by Robert Bly

Read Wanting Sumptuous Heavens poem by Robert Bly written. Wanting Sumptuous Heavens poem is from Robert Bly poems. Wanting Sumptuous Heavens poem summary, analysis and comments.

www.poemhunter.com

Robert Bly

 

[Liam]

I just love that little poem!

 

[Uemarasan]

I prefer Bly as a sort of cultural curator. His so-called translations, though quite effective at times, heavily depended on the translation work done by others, and his poetry belongs to that generation of American poets that has always left me cold (Ginsberg and Snyder).