Christmas Critics

Matthew Boudway

The poets Samuel Menashe, Jack Gilbert, and W. S. Merwin are now all in their eighties. Their reputations secure, their voices assured, they are free either to break their own old rules or to continue following them—and so break the rule that says a poet must not repeat himself. There is beauty in their departures, but also in their returns.

In a foreword to the expanded edition of his...

The remainder of this article is only available to paid subscribers.

Print subscribers to Commonweal are entitled to free access to all premium online content. Click here to purchase a print subscription, or if you’re already a print subscriber, register now for premium access.

Online-only subscriptions provide access to all premium online articles for just $34/year. Click here to subscribe.

Registered users, please log in below: