tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21999805.post5957223143645732162..comments2024-03-28T19:56:32.848-05:00Comments on Anecdotal Evidence: `But the Shore Is a Long Way Off'Patrick Kurphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08436175583386298032noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21999805.post-29654264793187164522010-12-15T17:19:43.105-06:002010-12-15T17:19:43.105-06:00Well, Buce, Zbigniew Herbert was manic-depressive....Well, Buce, Zbigniew Herbert was manic-depressive. That made him full of charm <i>some</i> of the time, at least.<br /><br />I interviewed Madame Herbert for many hours in Warsaw in 2008 -- she testified to his overwhelming charm and cheerfulness, as well as his deep despair.Cynthia Havenhttp://bookhaven.stanford.edunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21999805.post-45116376736910654722010-12-15T09:56:52.457-06:002010-12-15T09:56:52.457-06:00Thanks for posting this piece on Polish poets, and...Thanks for posting this piece on Polish poets, and thanks for referring to my poem.John Guzlowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13052735138993479204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21999805.post-77209295148161544972010-12-14T22:47:26.530-06:002010-12-14T22:47:26.530-06:00Patrick, I'll go second to no one in my esteem...Patrick, I'll go second to no one in my esteem for Wat and Hebert, but "charm, freshness, sincerity, good humor"--whatever they may have to do with Polish Christmas carols, these qualities just don't seem (to me) to capture the flavor of these two extraordinary men. Decency and civility for sure, and a kind of bleak realism and a not-so-subtle insistence on sojering on in the worst of times. But "charm," etc., connote (not so?) a relaxed ease which just isn't on the agenda here. Are you sure you are not confusing them with Sydney Smith?Bucehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452321114185736762noreply@blogger.com