Words You Should Know

Celebrated American poet Edward Hirsch knows a thing or two about writing poetry. With nine books of poems to his credit, he’s also written The Essential Poet’s Glossary, an excerpt of which appeared earlier this month in Literary Hub, my favorite email newsletter.

From Aubade to Epigram to Lyric, Hirsch provides thoughtful commentary and examples on many of the words and concepts important to poets. The one I keep returning to is his explanation of Inspiration. “In-breathing, indwelling. Inspiration is connected to enthusiasm, which derives from the Greek word enthousiasmos, or ‘inspiration,’ which in turn derives from enthousiazein, which means ‘to be inspired by a god,’” he begins, then goes on to discuss two views of the source of inspiration: “that it comes as a force from beyond the poet” and “that it comes as a power from within the poet.”

Whatever the source, it’s what the poet does with inspiration that counts. Hirsch ends his discussion by quoting Paul Valery: “A poet’s function—do not be startled by this remark—is not to experience the poetic state: that is a private affair. His function is to create it in others.”

You can read the entire excerpt here.
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Time to Step Up

Like many writers, I live inside my head, talking to my various selves, hoping a few others might hear. But these days, it’s time to step outside ourselves and step up for our imperfect democracy. Protests are blossoming not just in the streets, but also in literary journals as poetry regains its old role of social criticism.

How many wars, revolutions, and repressions must we witness, how many despairing refugees must we turn away, while we sit safe in our shining city on a hill, girded with oceans, lulled by a national dream as evanescent as any dream and as impermanent.

It’s time to step up for Freedom, Justice, and Equality. And for small-d decency, hand to hand, soul to soul, me to you.
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Such an Ugly Time