SK Podcast: Poems by Dennis Silk

My second podcast features the work of Dennis Silk, the poet who gave this site its name.  I read four poems from his last collection Catwalk and Overpass:  "Neologism," "A Cloud Inhaled Me," "What the Spies Said to Moses," and "Millamant to Mirabell."  I finish my reading with the first verse of Melanie's "Someday I'll be a Farmer."  My fan kicked in at around 5:20 but I liked this recording too much to start over.  I'm trying to keep these recordings to about five minutes but this will take more practice.  I see these podcasts as an opportunity to provide some relevant background information on poets and poems that I enjoy and, more importantly, to reflect on why these particular works matter to me.   Bear with me!

SK Podcast: Poems by Dennis Silk

Comments

[Rythmik]

This was really beautiful...great podcast, I loved all the backround information

[petrala]

I am so happy that Dennis Silk was been included on this podcast.
I was a friend of him for his last years in Jerusalem and for me his personality and his poetry became fundamental part for my future life.

[adriana]

Thank you, petrala! I'm very glad that this podcast reached you.

[Kenneth Gross]

I stumbled on this site looking online texts from Dennis Silk's "Stingy Kids." It's a surprise and pleasure to find it. Silk is a remarkable poet -- not mention a writer of strangely beautiful story-histories such as "Costigan," and plays for people and puppets. (Really, it's the best writing about puppets since Heinrich von Kleist.) Also there's a moving and devious anthology of ancient and modern writings about Jerusalem, "Retrievements."

In a visit to Israel this past winter, partly undertaken to do research on his work, about which I am writing, I was struck by how powerfully many people - poets, actors, writers - remembered Dennis, how crucial a witness and touchstone he was.

Kenneth Gross
The American Academy in Berlin

[adriana]

Kenneth, I'm so glad that you found your way to Stingy Kids and to the Dennis Silk podcast in particular. And I'm excited to hear that you are doing research on his work! I'm sure you've come across the play "Life isn't All Bike-clips." It's one of my favorite pieces by Silk. Retrievements is a stunning anthology; if I could give a copy to everyone who goes to Jerusalem for the first time, I would. Please let me know if you end up publishing anything on Silk.

Did you find the "Stingy Kids" poems? I can send you a copy, if you'd like. Also, copies of Silk's work occasionally find their way to The Strand in NYC.

All the best,
Adriana Jacobs

[Irene Bublik]

Great site. I would like to add that I met Dennis Silk in Jerusalem back in 1990, when I was a student at the Hebrew University. I used to cook for him twice a week. He was very fond of my Ratatouille, which actually was the only thing I could cook well back then! I have nice memories of our conversations.

[Nomi Eve]

Does anyone know the name of the old monastery where Dennis Silk Lived in Jerusalem?
I visited him there once, and would like to remember it.
N