A POET’S PROGRESS: READING ROBERT GIBBONS Who among us has not dreamt of a particular prose, a poetic prose which could translate the lyrical movements of the mind, the undulations of reverie, the leaps of conscience? — Baudelaire In his essay “Training For Poets”, H. L. Hix writes, “Poetic inspiration occurs not upon the occasion […]
Listen to PEN New England’s Tribute to Howard Zinn on WGBH Forum Network. At this event, PEN New England presented our 2010 Vasyl Stus Freedom-to-Write Award to Zargana, poet and comedian imprisoned by the regime in Burma/Myanmar. Here is an op-ed I co-wrote with Joshua Rubenstein, Northeast Regional Director of Amnesty International. TEARS OF A […]
Thanks to Thom Bassett for bringing this follow-up article by Glenn Greenwald to my attention. This is more than another article on Wikileaks. It is an analysis of the corrupted role of American journalism in ensuring that we remain ignorant of what our government, in collusion with other powerful interests, is actually doing. In the […]
A friend wrote to say that Assange has done some dangerous things, putting people’s lives at risk. I don’t know where he gets his information. Is Wikileaks as dangerous as the mainstream media parroting what governments and megabanks feed them? Just where are those weapons of mass destruction? Glenn Greenwald has a great article about […]
How one feels about Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange seems to depend on one’s allegiance. I’m reminded of the old joke: Lone Ranger: Tonto, we’re surrounded by Indians! Tonto: What you mean, WE, kemosabe? If you identify, either actively or passively, with corporate capitalism’s global agenda, then Assange is a criminal. If you see […]
While at the Vermont Studio Center in September, working on a nonfiction project, I spent a wonderful afternoon with my former student, the essayist Sarah Stromeyer and her husband, sculptor David Stromeyer, walking the acreage adjacent to their home, viewing David’s stunning work. That field, in Enosburg, is testament to his long and innovative career […]
PROCESSION: AFTER A PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSEF KOUDELKA It only looks as if the boyon the bike, in his angel costume,is pulling the heavy load,drayhorses and all, that we cannot see.Like the faces of the domestic beasts, his face says he is only halfway present.He has learned to steer with one hand. And it only looks […]
RICHARD HOFFMAN 
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