! ! A Poem For Coleman Barks, Daniel Ladinsky And Robert Bly Poem by Michael Shepherd

Hello, Michael Shepherd I just read your poem for the three translators of Sufi-inflected poetry including Robert Bly, and I had to respond immediately. I'll explain why in a moment. First, let me say I have been in Robert Bly's orbit for fifty years. In autumn of 1964, I was a naïve college freshman who attended a reading of Poets Against the War. Bly was the charismatic and eloquent master of the program.. I've been a reader of his poetry ever since. Your poem is a wonderful lyric celebration of poets past and present, and I have to eat a large slice of humble pie. I am one of those who have questioned the credibility of these translators. Not so much Bly as Barks and Ladinsky. But your poem chastened me; I believe my negative views of their efforts has dried up inside of me and I feel instead a respect for their involvement. I have volumes by both of them as well as Bly's translations. I am going to look again at both Barks and Ladinsky with an unbiased mind - because your poem is so persuasive! Truly, it has brightened this early winter morning, and I believe the glow will last as I read their work more sympathetically. Thank you for this lyric poem!