THE VOICE OF THE POET Richard Wilbur

The earthy, reassuring, and honest tones of Richard Wilbur's voice provide the essence of the poems captured in this recording. His delivery is serious, even when giving voice to simple subjects like milkweed or stone. His wit is so dry that the gravity of his reading borders on deadpan at times. Wilbur's poems are formal, but the attentive listener will be frequently rewarded with a line like "Let there be nothing on earth but laundry," followed by a recitation of the type of clean linens there should be for thieves, lovers, and nuns. These poems are calming and satisfying. The themes of the poems in this selection range from epic figures like Merlin and Gawain to the natural world. R.F.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 04]