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December 2008
Poems by Roddy Lumsden, Todd Boss, Joan Houlihan, Ange Mlinko, Fred D'Aguiar, R.S. Gwynn, Glenn Morazzini, Lilly Poetry Fellows: Nicky Beer, Michael Rutherglen, Roger Reeves; and more More
Harriet

Emily Warn
Man Reading Yeats at Wrigley Field

Yeats%20The%20Man%20and%20the%20Mask.JPG


Don Share wrote in response to Michael Robbins:

And then B. [Walter Benjamin] says, commenting on the "ancient lament that the masses seek distraction whereas art demands concentration from the spectator...."

Here's a spectator absorbed by art...

Bob Kaul was in the apparel business for 40 years and on retiring he discovered poetry. On Sunday evening he was reading Richard Ellman’s Yeats: The Man and The Mask in section 224, aisle 3, seat 102 at Wrigley Field. I just happened to sit behind him. (BTW, the Cubbies beat the Cardinals 6-2.)

high%20fives.JPG

08.14.08 | Comments (10)



Comments


Okay, I'll point out the obvious: "Man Reading Yeats Ellman."

Posted by: Lydia Olidea on August 14, 2008 11:43 AM

Great. More fuel to the fire of the stereotype that fans at Wrigley don't pay attention to the game.

Posted by: Matt on August 14, 2008 12:38 PM

Actually...one of the (very) long-time beer vendors at Wrigley is a failry famous Chicago poet. Has great pieces that WTTW has played extensively on the destruction of old Comiskey as well as pieces on Wrigley Field ... poet Bob Chico.

Posted by: Mark Eleveld on August 14, 2008 12:48 PM

Reading criticism at a baseball game is clearly a third-order activity. Also, Professor Ellmann would like Harriet to spell his name correctly. As for the Cubs, Professor Ellmann notes on p. 42 of his fine study that in his opening address to the Dublin Hermetic Society, Yeats said, "I warn you that on the road to truth lurks many a dragon & goblin of mischief in wait for the soul. Miracle hunger is one of them."

Posted by: Michael Robbins on August 14, 2008 12:52 PM

I suppose Yeats would have understood from his study of Theosophy that the Cubs are, like each of the world's religions, fellow travelers on the long road to spiritual perfection.

Posted by: Don Share on August 14, 2008 1:51 PM

If only Steve Bartman had been absorbed with reading Yeats in Aisle 4 Row 8 seat 113 during the 8th inning at game 6 of the championship series on October 14, 2003!

Posted by: Edward Byrne on August 14, 2008 4:31 PM

I wasn't trying to tempt the fates,
I was killing time reading about Yeats.
The minute the anthem we fans did greet,
Richard Ellmann went under the seat.
This is not an excuse that's lame,
I watched every play. It was a great game.

Posted by: Bob Kaul on August 14, 2008 8:33 PM

Abner Doubleday was a Theosophist & hung out with HPB.

Posted by: Jilly on August 15, 2008 10:11 AM

As Bob's son I have to say,
I cannot imagine that he would miss a play

For years he has suffered so much pain
Watching so many games in vain

Yeats, engrossing as he may be,
Cannot compete derek lee

(Linda- you are next)

Posted by: Daniel Kaul on August 16, 2008 1:13 PM

Calling all Kaul poets!

Welcome to Harriet. You have your priorities straight--baseball before poetry.

Thanks for your poems!

Emily Warn

Posted by: Emily Warn on August 18, 2008 10:14 AM

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