Charles Simic CD

1974/1977. Introduced by Theodore Wilentz (1974) and Michael Benedikt (1977).

As Michael Benedikt says in his introduction, "Simic's diction is tight, compact, and quiet... The poems have a lot to say to any ear which can hear their extraordinary, visionary magic."

Simic, who won the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, is an entertaining reader, and these recordings display this well. The selections, comprised primarily of poems from his first three books, demonstrate a wonderful range, from the comical to the incisive.

Length: 56 min.

Track List

3 may 1977

1. Introduction by Michael Benedikt
2. Riddle (from Two Riddles)
3. Introduction to "The Partial Explanation"
4. The Partial Explanation
5. Introduction to "Animal Acts"
6. Animal Acts
7. Help Wanted
8. Introduction to "Eyes Fastened with Pins"
9. Eyes Fastened with Pins
10. Introduction to "A Landscape with Crutches"
11. A Landscape with Crutches
12. Nursery Rhyme
13. Introduction to "Solitude"
14. Solitude
15. Introduction to "Trees at Night"
16. Trees at Night
17. Introduction to "Harsh Climate"
18. Harsh Climate
19. Introduction to "Ballad"
20. Ballad
21. Breasts
22. Introduction to "Euclid Avenue"
23. Euclid Avenue

9 april 1974

24. Introduction by Theodore Wilentz
25. Introduction to "Tapestry"
26. Tapestry
27. Two Riddles
28. Brooms
29. Traveling
30. Charles Simic
31. The Further Adventures of Charles Simic
32. Invention of Nothing
33. Pain
34. Ballad
35. Breasts
36. Introduction to "The Point"
37. The Point