Great Regulars: I waken the car

whose windscreen is coated with pollen.
I put on my sunglasses.
The birdsong darkens.

Here, Mr. [Tomas] Transtromer carefully sets up several interconnecting themes: the act of creation (which is why the windshield is coated with pollen, not dust); the difficulties of perception (he is behind an occluded screen wearing dark glasses); and the surprising, unplannable nature of art (notice the startling blend of sight and sound in "birdsong darkens").

from David Orr: The New York Times: Following Words Through a Labyrinth

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Over the last decade, however, the tension between book-based poets and performance poets has, if not vanished, at least eased considerably. In part this is because the writers have had more time to meet one another, discover similar values and possibly enjoy the bond that comes of knowing that everyone involved makes less money than rappers. Poets like Saul Williams and Patricia Smith, who got their start in performance, have had success in print. (Ms. Smith's "Blood Dazzler" was a finalist for the National Book Award.) Craig Arnold, whose career began with the Yale Series of Younger Poets prize in 1998, participated on several slam teams, and Billy Collins is almost as well known for his superb performances as for the craftsmanship of his collections.

from David Orr: The New York Times: Open Mike, Insert Verse

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