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John Matthias poems, quotations and biography on John Matthias poet page. Read all poems of John Matthias and infos about John Matthias.
John Matthias is an American poet. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1941 and attended the Ohio State University and Stanford University. At Stanford he studied under the poet and critic Yvor Winters, but did not conform to Winters' stringent anti-modernist position. In fact, Matthias became deeply interested in modernism, especially English modernism, which he came to know well during many years of residence in England. His peers at Stanford included two future poets laureate of the United States, Robert Hass and Robert Pinsky, as well as the poets Ken Fields, James McMichael, and John Peck.
Influences include John Berryman, Ezra Pound, and perhaps most importantly, the ... more »
John Matthias Poems
In memory of Octavio Paz
not even lost in death the memory
of why we burned, and therefore still... more »
In memory of Anthony Kerrigan
The pure shapes of things shake and are fall
ing under the cry of bajo el cri cri
and chirping of the six margaritas... more »
After Quevedo
In memory of Octavio Paz
not even lost in death the memory
of why we burned, and therefore still
a fire consuming all obsequious delay,
now polvo, dust, of a desire but still alive
and aching, not even lost to you
within our common urn, urgent as an ash
still burning alma, soul, still
and moving toward you, la muerte, my amor—
not even lost in death, memoria,
and feeling some reply, alma, memory and ash,
ash burning still, still
and moving toward you, dust and dust, ash
alma and amor constante
...
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