Poets C. O. Grossman and Juliana Spahr sifted through the WikiLeaks Public Library of US Diplomacy—a cache of US diplomatic cables—for mention of famous US poets from the second half of the twentieth century, including Denise Levertov, Amiri Baraka, and Stanley Kunitz. The result, which can be viewed at the n+1 website, is a strange, jarring compilation of bureaucratic descriptions of both political activities and seemingly innocuous details, such as Robert Creely’s “Levi’s and fisherman’s hat.” It’s a creepy glimpse through the eyes of government surveillance. Here’s an excerpt:
JOHN CHEEVER, DENISE LEVERTOV, ELTON FAX, GORE VIDAL, AND N. SCOTT MOMADAY WILL ATTEND WRITERS’ CONFERENCE BY UNION OF BULGARIAN WRITERS, HOST AND ORGANIZER OF MEETING. WHILE CONFERENCE OBVIOUSLY HAS POLITICAL MOTIVES, WE BELIEVE THAT AMERICANS WHO PLAN TO ATTEND WILL EXPRESS TRADITIONAL AMERICAN VIEWS SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND WILL SPEAK OUT ON ANY OTHER SUBJECTS WHICH INTEREST THEM.
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STANLEY KUNITZ HAS INFORMED DEPARTMENT THAT HE INTENDS TO MAKE PRESENTATION OF BRONZE MEDAL TO PRESIDENT SENGHOR AS PERSONAL GESTURE, WHEN HE MEETS HIM. MEDAL STRUCK WITH HEAD OF SENGHOR IS WORK OF FRENCH SCULPTOR, CHARLOTTE ENGLES, AND HONORS THE PRESIDENT AS POET AND HUMANIST. MEDAL WAS GIVEN TO KUNITZ BY A FRIEND WHO IS A COLLECTOR.
STANLEY KUNITZ SHOULD BE INFORMED BEFORE MEETING WITH PRESIDENT IF POSTS TAKES EXCEPTION TO THIS GESTURE.
STANLEY KUNITZ IS WARM, OUTGOING PERSON WHO ENJOYS MEETING PEOPLE OF ALL TYPES.
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ROBERT CREELEY’S LEVIS AND FISHERMAN’S HAT GO A LONG WAY IN DESCRIBING THE TYPE OF PERSON HE IS.
ROBERT CREELEY IS RELAXED, EASY TO WORK WITH AND VERY PERSONABLE.
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AMIRI BARAKA GAVE A READING OF HIS NOW-INFAMOUS SCREED “SOMEBODY BLEW UP AMERICA – A POEM ABOUT SEPTEMBER 11” AT THE PRESTIGIOUS NAPOLI POESIA FESTIVAL IN THE OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER OF THE PARCO CAMALDOLI IN NAPLES (THOUGH NO U.S. OFFICIAL WAS IN ATTENDANCE).
Image: Amiri Baraka