Jerome Rothenberg: November 14, 2017 - Poetry Center Digital Archive

The Poetry Center presents Jerome Rothenberg, reading and in conversation. Rothenberg reads works from several of his books, including Flower World Variations (revised, expanded edition, The Operating System, 2017), Eye of Witness: A Jerome Rothenberg Reader (Black Widow Press, 2013), China Notes & the Treasures of Dunhuang (Ahadada Books, 2006), and A Field on Mars: Divagations & Autovariations, Poems 2000-2015 (PURH, 2015), plus a new poem and a poem previously published in the online magazine Jacket2. The reading is followed by a conversation with the audience.

Jerome Rothenberg (00:57:56)

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After Steve Dickison introduces Jerome Rothenberg, Rothenberg begins by explaining the provenance of his Flower World Variations, a series of 15 poems based on traditional Yaqui Indian Deer Dance songs. He reads variations one to fifteen. Rothenberg then reads two works translated from Aramaic, from Eye of Witness: A Jerome Rothenberg Reader: "A Poem for the Small Face" and "A Poem for the Shekinah on the Feast of the Sabbath." He discusses his travels to Dunhuang, China, and Tokyo, Japan, before reading "The Treasures of Dunhuang, Part 1," for Armand Schwerner, from China Notes & the Treasures of Dunhuang. He then reads "Huidobro's Tomb," also from A Field on Mars. Rothenberg shares a story about travelling to Poland with his family and sleeping in Hitler's bed. He reads a new poem, published in Jacket2, titled "America/2017: The President of Desolation." He reads a poem written for his lifelong friend, the poet David Antin, upon his death: "The Mysteries of the Mind Laid Bare in Talking," before ending with a poem from A Field on Mars, titled "A Poem of Miracles."

Conversation (00:12:59)

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Jerome Rothenberg answers questions from the audience. When asked how to keep invested in writing poetry, Rothenberg states that it is "crazy" to think of creative writing as having any "pay-off," and remarks on the prevalence of MFA programs in poetry. He recalls that when he told his family he wanted to write, "they thought some good would come out of it, but no goods." He then shares with students his favorite piece of advice acquired from Robert Duncan, which is to be open to influence but not direction. Rothenberg discusses what it means to dedicate a poem to another person, as a gift or the expression of desire to connect with another person, just as it is a gift for him when other poets acknowledge him in their works. He discusses his sense of faith and relation to Judaism, as well as being inspired by philosophers such as Socrates and Plato. When asked which younger poets he respects and would recommend, he names Jake Marmer and Ariel Resnikoff, both present in the audience.

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Added to Poetry Center Digital Archive on December 20, 2017.

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Jerome Rothenberg: November 14, 2017 (Updated a year ago)

Jerome Rothenberg (00:57:56)

Conversation (00:12:59)

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