Gary Snyder on Ecology and Poetry - part 1

This great video shows Snyder talking about a great many important issues and also he reads and discusses some of his work.

• Category

  Nonprofits & Activism

[IzzyIsou]

I'm sorry, I'm going to be stating a negative opinion, which, with many of Snyder's fololowers, is a capital sin. Gary Snyder is a lousy poet. In fact, most of those Beat Generation / US Zen / "environmentalist" poets were and contiinue to be. His poems have neither eloquece, mystery or anything moving about them. He is, like many that cme from that scene, a "star" regardless of talent. Poetry omes from the innards; Snyder and his cronies were all on the external -- like a Coca Cola commercial.

[logosthedestroyer]

I find that quite interesting; personally I do find his poetry to flow from within - I suppose it's just down to us as different individuals. My main interest though with Snyder is his (very) deep ecology and his unique and well-developed ideas about the human condition within that. Thanks for your comment.

[TheRamblinjim]

We don't seriously become a poet in order to get the dick wet, and to be a poet in America today is to court imprisonment.

Gary writes ecology to redeem himself for his parent's logging crimes.

But like all forms of redemption attempts, and lounge-lizard lines. they're destined to fall flat as a pancake

Every single time

[logosthedestroyer]

Well, you're entitled to your opinions but I firmly believe you have Snyder's intentions as wrong as can be. If you don't like this, find something you do like so that you can channel your energies in a more positive way.

[theloudown]

I think Gary Snyder is a beautiful, wise poet. I'm not sure why people bother to use Youtube in such a negative way. Noone is making you watch this video, I'm assuming it was posted for the enjoyment of other Snyder fans. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but why be so negative? Why not find a poet you DO like, and write something positive under their video? Revel in work that you do appreciate, keep quiet about that which you don't.

[4zxeue]

It's okay; the fact that you've posted your negative opinion multiple times over several years on the Youtube video of a poet you don't like makes it seem like you're looking for a fight from his fololowers more than anything! :) I like Gary Snyder's poetry, and find it to be very moving. I am very far removed from the 'scene' you seem to think he and his cronies are from, so it doesn't affect my opinion of his poetry one way or another. Although I'm an even bigger fan of his prose...

[Meemaah100]

Let's hear some of your poems...or, some praise of your eloquent sensitivies as perceived by your cronies and your fans.

but I cannot possibly care about a hierarchy of celebrity poets

but dear Izzylsou, who do you love and who loves you??

[IzzyIsou]

"to be a poet in America today is to court imprisonment"? Really? Give me an example. No, in Communist China, Cuba, and Russia that is the case. American poets would not have survived those regimes, they are soft and spoiled.

[regardingwave]

YOU whoever you are, are obviously mentally challenged and basically fucking stupid. You obviously inhere from the neanderthal or homo erectus in your DNA! You would not know true human emotion and expression if it ate your fucking heart! He lived everything he wrote-what the fuck have YOU DONE??

[Countrychiddler]

Do you write poetry? 

[logosthedestroyer]

Sorry, I don't know what you mean



[Countrychiddler]

Write poetry? What ya got?