Moving and exact. I admire Boland for the ambition of her poems, from the domestic, which she does superbly, to her attention to history in all its manifestations (family, global), and for her often heart-wrenching clarity and music. I knew her slightly - we lived in the same group of apartments at Stanford and met occasionally for coffee. Once, I think I recall, I mentioned the use of humour in poetry -- perhaps we were discussing Plath, whose humour is too rarely evoked -- and Eavan looking a little surprised at my pleasure in the use of humour -- or shall I say touches of humour -- in lyrics. Thank you for this essay.
Moving and exact. I admire Boland for the ambition of her poems, from the domestic, which she does superbly, to her attention to history in all its manifestations (family, global), and for her often heart-wrenching clarity and music. I knew her slightly - we lived in the same group of apartments at Stanford and met occasionally for coffee. Once, I think I recall, I mentioned the use of humour in poetry -- perhaps we were discussing Plath, whose humour is too rarely evoked -- and Eavan looking a little surprised at my pleasure in the use of humour -- or shall I say touches of humour -- in lyrics. Thank you for this essay.