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23 July 1977
Wes McNair
No. Sutton
New Hampshire
Dear Wes,
Thanks for the good letter, written July 10th (it couldn’t have
been written July 10th!, but that’s what it seems to say).
I’m delighted to do the lecture. I will I think talk about the
nature of American nationality, and the identity of the national
literature – which sounds incredibly pompous; but I will spice it up
with a lot of jokes!
Thanks again for writing about the Christ incident. I am interested
that everyone was so sensitive about it. I can see why. Anyway, I think
if I were you I would go there also, although the morals of it would give
me pause – as I’m sure it gives you pause. But you cannot investigate
anything by staying behind in North Sutton. And it is possible that if
you go there, and find out what is going on, you can do something for the
people, not just for the government. I don’t really believe in the people-
to-people – I mean, I think that’s rhetoric. The Fulbright is a U S gov-
ernment grant, and people in the various countries know it. And there
are, yes, worser places even than Chile! I don’t think Russia.
[Written in margin: I mean I don’t think there are F’s.] But lots
of weird places. Our government criticized politicized the Fulbrights originally,
by denying them to people with leftwing connections. By denying them to
Americans with leftwing connections, I mean. There is no way to do any-
thing in the modern world without tarnishing yourself with something or
other. You cannot drive on the highways, without accepting something
from Meldrim Thompson. I’m serious!
Have you read – do you own – the Hardie St.Martin anthology from Harper
and Row called Roots and Wings? It’s superb. It is Spanish poetry, not
Latin American, but it has some of the best translations going. Very few
poor ones. By a whole lot of different translators, including Bly and Merwin
and Phil Levine, some of the best. I have a couple of translations in there
myself, but I don’t put myself in that company. It is available in paper-
back now, but it’s a pretty expensive paperback. I would really recommend
it.
Isn’t the blind Bly Neruda easily available? From Beacon? I mean, Carlton
won’t have it in New London, I know. But you can get it mailed up to you from
Boston I’m sure. There’s a wonderful book store in Cambridge, the Grolier,
which will mail things to me. In case you don’t happen to have a place that
will do it, would you like that name and address? It is Louisa Salano, Grolier
Book Shop, 6 Pliympton St., Cambridge, MA. If you tell her I suggested that you
write her, I think she will mail you stuff without having to bite the money.
I will ask Jane to show me the last version of the “Father” poem.
Seriously, I keep so separate from Green House, I don’t know what’s going
to be in it until I read the print edition. It’s better this way, knowing
my propensity toward sticking my nose into everything!
I didn’t send you the “Journeys Through Bookland” because I thought
it sounded like any of your poems. I didn’t think of that. I just happened
to have a copy of it, and it is brand new. I wonder what you think of “Stone
Walls”… I look forward to hearing about that. Yes, I do have a copy of
Tiger Lilies to give you and I’m delighted to give you a copy. I like that
one also.
I’m sorry you won’t be there for the lecture also. Well, not so much
that you won’t be there for the lecture, just that you won’t be there. But
we look forward to you coming back – and I’m absolutely fascinated to hear
about everything in Chile. Especially about the poets. Well, the poets
and the opposition – and for the most part poets will be in the opposition.
Best to you both, from us both,
Don |