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Saint-John Perse famously wrote little poetry as a diplomat. Except for his stint in China, his diplomatic career involved an intentional turning away from poet
by OfSanguineFire 3y ago
Saint-John Perse famously wrote little poetry as a diplomat. Except for his stint in China, his diplomatic career involved an intentional turning away from poetry. What allowed him to return to poetry, in exile in the USA, was a Library of Congress consultant position created for him that was mostly a sinecure. Indeed, few make a living from poetry, but a sinecure has historically been the most that a poet could hope for.
Also, Perse had rich and powerful friends and lovers in the USA, which allowed him to enjoy countryside retreats and fine dining beyond what that LoC position could have allowed him. Easier to be a poet when one's needs are amply met and one can work in peace.
- everybodyknows 3y agoAnd yet Wallace Stevens wrote while serving as an executive at an insurance company.
- cafard 3y agoFor some years before the US had a Poet Laureate, the equivalent honor was Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. I know Randall Jarrell held the position for a year (whence, I suppose "The Woman at the Washington Zoo"), and I must have known of others. I was not aware of the effect of his diplomatic career on his output...
- OfSanguineFire 3y agoPerse wasn't that consultant, but rather a special position as a consultant in French literature was created for him. That Perse abandoned poetry after the publication of Anabase, because he felt it would conflict with his career as a diplomat, is a cornerstone of any biography of the poet.