GC: No better place!
VP: Do you know this
quote by Bob Dylan: "Let's not talk falsely now. The hour is getting late!"
GC: I hadn't heard
it before. But, I do like it! Let's make it the motto for our discussions!
Then, let's inscribe it in the pediment of the U.S. Congress and in the Russian
Duma!
VP: I've been a fan of Dylan's since the early 60s. The
quote is from his programmatic "All Along the Watchtower." You and I are of the same generation" so I
thought you'd recognize it. " I recently wrote a short article,
prompted by the latest events with Snowden. " It's a spin-off of my work in
poetry.
GC: The question of "Politics and the Arts," and issues of State
Secrecy, as raised by Snowden, Wikileaks, Assange and others--I'm sure we'll
keep returning to these.
I'm glad to see you developing themes
about Snowden. He has raised major questions for all of us in this post-Cold
War, Hyper-Security, International Prison House in which we find ourselves.
Artists should be especially sensitive to the encroachments of the State on our
ability to think and communicate and express ourselves.
VP: Yes! While the US and Russia exchange hostilities, let us exchange
poetry!
GC: Artists must be the antidote to all the insanity in this world!
I want poetry to be dangerous! Do you know the American
journalist/thinker/commentator, Chris Hedges? He said recently in an interview
that the point of democracy is to have a government that is afraid of the
people! In a Tyranny, the People fear their government; but in a Democracy, the
government fears the People! When the
people are truly informed and empowered--then there can be true democracy and
freedom of speech and flourishing arts" and the government will serve the
people!
VP: I know Chris Hedges. " I
have translated a dozen of his articles and posted them on my site. He's
popular in some Russian left circles. I admire what he writes and his style
too. He's precise and expressive.
I'll re-read our 1 st
"Poets Talk" and will make up my mind on the 2 nd . Also, I thought to
share with you my own plans on future books" and the ones I have already
compiled as samizdat.
GC: That seems like a reasonable way to keep the flow going. " I
believe we can do important work together. The Internet has opened up possibilities
that 20th Century artists could not even imagine! We'll keep it going!
Let's call it a "Round" for now. When
we resume, tell me more about your literary plans. "
Round Two
VP: Hi, Gary. " Do
you recall, from our first cycle of dialogues, that I was telling you about
"looming" book projects of mine?
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