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Williams, William Carlos to Deutsch, Babette, 1951 March 2

 Item — Box: 1, Folder: 11

Typed letter signed, 4 pages. Rutherford, NJ. “Never look for exact symbolism in me. Kra is for anything elemental, even diabolical...” Williams, like Allen Tate, liked Tolson's Ode for Liberia in Poetry [1950]. Discusses use of the sea in a poem: “we come out into the sea but [we must] turn around and strike into the land again.” Prefers first part of book IV [Paterson], likes “the old bitch facing the little Paterson nurse...” “Nobody else loves her but me: and Theocritus.” Dissatisfied with nudes of girl. Discusses characters of Gurlie Flynn, John Johnson, who killed the judge. “War: stupidity... There is nothing, nothing but the imagination (whatever that is).” Closing on page 2, letter continued on numbered pages 3 and 4.

Dates

  • Creation: 1951 March 2

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Manuscripts Collecting Area

Contact:
Joel Minor
Olin Library, 1 Brookings Drive
MSC 1061-141-B
St. Louis MO 63130 US
(314) 935-5495