Politics poisons poetry
By Dave Read, Lenox, MA, September 18, 2025 – When he accepted the invitation to become poet laureate consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress, soon after the shameful removal of Carla Hayden from the office of Librarian of Congress, Arthur Sze enrolled BigPoetry on the roster of cowardly institutions, alongside such feckless entities as BigLaw, BigTech, and BigMedia.
Mr. Sze told reporters that he declined to accept the offer immediately because of the furor aroused by Ms. Hayden’s disgraceful treatment. But, he acceded to her mistreatment the next day when he said yes to the bestowal of his own singular honor.
He said yes to an office that he knows he will be thrown out of the minute he tells anybody how Poetry feels to be muzzled and tethered to the executive branch of the diseased tree of American liberty. Or, will he follow tacit orders, keep his thoughts to himself, and assist the surgeon-in-chief in Poetry’s laryngectomy?
Mr. Sze attributed his decision to take the job to a desire to be of service to the thing that afforded him a happy career. But, Poetry is infinitely greater than any poet; to pretend to be the benefactor, not beneficiary, of Poetry, is to fly too close to the sun.
The high country around Santa Fe, NM ought to be close enough to the sun for Mr. Sze, whose career there at the Institute of American Indian Arts, in addition to his own poems and translations, is service enough to Poetry.
What is lacking in the vicinity of the Library of Congress is frankness and honesty, not another muzzle and leash. Please don’t go to Washington, DC, Mr. Sze, surely the Land of Enchantment has plenty more in store for thee – I mean, you.
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