Vox Populi
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Bill Knott: Death
Going to sleep, I cross my hands on my chest.
They will place my hands like this.
It will look as though I am flying into myself.
Bill Knott (1940-2014) was an American surrealist poet who taught at Emerson College for more than 25 years. His work has been admired by many poets including James Wright who called Knott “an unmistakable genius.” An extensive archive of Bill Knott’s poems and paintings can be found at this link.
Bill Knott, “Death” from Asheville Poetry Review 10, no. 1. Copyright 2003 by Bill Knott.
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One of my favorites of his. Thank you, Michael, for posting it.
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Bill Knott is unique.
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I remember going to a reading he did in the 60s.
he was great and weird
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Great and weird is a good description of his whole oeuvre.
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Thank you, Laure-Anne. I hope we get to talk face to face before too long.
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Okay, I must admit, I’ve not read him. What I see here, in the art and poetry is amazing. His style is what I believe James Tate might of written in short hand. James Wright, one of my very, very favorite poets was correct. I’ve just ordered his biggest book, hoping his art is in there along with his poems.
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H.C., he’s a poet’s poet, that Bill Knott — I hope, one day, to have the pleasure to tell you more about that odd, awkward, kind man that Kurt and I often spent time with when we lived in Cambridge. Thomas Lux was probably his greatest friend and supporter.
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Brilliant, quirky, solitary, kind, shy, huge-hearted Bill Knott…
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meh
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…and for you he is ‘meh.’ You know, you’re not the only one. I have had long discussions about his work (so prolific!), and there were quite a few who had the same opinion than you. And I joyfully respect that — there are some poets that some/many praise to high heaven that are nothing but “meh” to me. I get that. Vive la difference!
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Well-said, Laure-Anne. We are allowed our individual tastes in poetry, music, food….
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Rather than the silly meh, I shoulda just kept my mouth shut. Fact is, I’ve read quite a number of Kn tt poems that I like a lot.
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no problem, Syd. We all have our meh moments.
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How very aot. Now I will read more Bill Knott.
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He is odd and brilliant. Highly original.
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The print is pretty astonishing, too. How I’m feeling this morning. Thanks again, Michael.
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Yes, I see myself in every one of his self portraits.
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I read the whole Bill Knott “anthology,” hurriedly, & once begun, worried it might disappear forever before I finished. It’s as if walking into a wood, I’d discovered a rare plant never seen before that makes me fear I might forget how I got here, or might be gone when I return. Thankyou for bringing us Bill Knott! James was right!
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I’ve loved Bill Knott since I was 22. He always makes me feel as if I’ve missed something right in front of me until he pointed it out.
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Perfect.
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Yes it is.
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So brief, so deep, so thought-provoking, so meaningful.
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Yes, Bill Knott can travel far in a few lines.
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