Abstract
Poet Robert Bly reads from a selection of his poems against the Vietnam War, including “Counting Small Bodies”, followed by an interview and discussion about his poetry and his feelings about the war. There are also some comments about the poetic process. Works read whole or in part include: “Romans Angry about the Inner World,” When the Dumb Speak,” “As the Asian War Begins,” “Watching Television,” and “Asian Peace Offers Rejected Without Publication,” from The Light Around, copyright 1967 Robert Bly. Reproduced by permission of Harper and Rowe Publishers, Inc. Selections for “The Teeth Mother Naked at Last” from Sleepers Joining Hands. Reproduced by permission of City Light Books and Harper and Rowe Publishers, Inc. “Looking into a Tide Pool” from The Morning Glory, copyright 1970 by Robert Bly. Reproduced by Permission of Robert Bly. Poem #11 from The Fish in the Sea is not Thirsty by Kabir, versions by Robert Bly. Reproduced by permission of Lillabularo Press, Inc. and Robert Bly. “Poem in Three Parts, “ “Watering the Horse” and “Surprised by Evening “ from Silence in the Snowy Fields published by Wesleyan University Press. Copyright 1962 by Robert Bly. Reproduced by permission of Robert Bly. The versions of poems by Basho (untitled) copyright 1972 Robert Bly. Permissions granted by Robert Bly. Interview conducted by A. Poulins, Jr and Anthony Piccione, along with several (male) creative writing students (*=uncredited)
Produced and directed for television by Francis R. Filardo. A production of Educational Communications Center, State University College of New York. Run time 50:33