The Poet's View

Produced and directed by filmmaker Mel Stuart for the American Academy of Poets, The Poet's View profiles five major figures: John Ashbery, Louise Glück, Anthony Hecht, Kay Ryan, and W.S. Merwin. Narrated by Suzanne Pleshette (for the first four segments) and Anjelica Huston (for the last), these 20-minute profiles find the poets speaking about their lives, as well as reading from their work. All were filmed in their own homes, reading directly to the viewer or before audiences of varying size, although Glück admits that “I hate poetry readings,” since she feels that “the poet has intervened between me and the poem.” The award-winning poets also talk a bit about their writing methods. Ryan says she writes “on yellow pad on clipboard pressed against knees in bed in the morning,” and starts by “rubbing a few words together. Lots of times they don't begin with my desiring anything but to stop doing nothing.” Ashbery uses a standard typewriter, and if a poem isn't readily emerging, he'll often simply discard it and move on. Hecht's tools are a pad and pen “and sometimes a pencil, but never a computer,” while Merwin recalls advice he received from Ezra Pound: “Write 75 lines a day.” Sure to appeal to poetry lovers, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Zoretich)