Louis Dudek

By: Alex McCormick and Kevin Pickard

Background info

Louis Duduk is his name. He was born on February 6th 1918 in Montréal. Died March 23rd 2001. He loved reading books even though his family didn't have many. He went to McGill university in 1936. He became a reporter and of the Associate Editors of the McGill Daily. When he graduated he became a freelance journalist for the Montréaler,

which was a newspaper company. He later moved to the us where he read different poets' work. He married Stephanie Zuperko in September of 1941. He joined Columbia university as a post grad student. In 1944 some of his poems were published. He published many books with his poems in them. He continued to write poems until his death in march of 2001.

The Strange MothThe Strange MothThe Strange MothThe Strange MothLouis DudekLouis Dudek

From:   From:   The Surface of TimeThe Surface of Time. Empyreal Press, 2000. . Empyreal Press, 2000.

Last night, against the white wall, by the bed-postLast night, against the white wall, by the bed-post     I saw a light-brown moth     I saw a light-brown mothangled like a broken umbrella,angled like a broken umbrella,               silently resting.               silently resting.Not beautiful, not frightening,Not beautiful, not frightening,     but very strange and original.     but very strange and original.How he got into the house I cannot imagine,How he got into the house I cannot imagine,          but I left him there           but I left him there

no doubt he had come to die no doubt he had come to die

analaysisanalaysis

1.1. This poem is about a small brown moth that flew into This poem is about a small brown moth that flew into the authors room. The moth landed above his the authors room. The moth landed above his bedpost and he suspected it had come there to die.bedpost and he suspected it had come there to die.

2.2. similesimile-angled like a broken umbrella-angled like a broken umbrellaimageryimagery-- against the white wall, by the bed-post against the white wall, by the bed-post

3.3. We think that the theme for this poem is We think that the theme for this poem is death.death. We We think this because in the poem the author suspects think this because in the poem the author suspects that the moth had come into his room to die, while that the moth had come into his room to die, while Louis, himself was almost at the end of his life when Louis, himself was almost at the end of his life when he wrote this particular poem.he wrote this particular poem.

4.4. We thought that the poem was interesting.We thought that the poem was interesting.

And So We Have ArrivedAnd So We Have ArrivedAnd So We Have ArrivedAnd So We Have ArrivedLouis DudekLouis Dudek

From:   From:   EuropeEurope. The . The Porcupine's Quill Press, Porcupine's Quill Press, 1991 1991

And so we have arrived.And so we have arrived.It narrows into the thin St. It narrows into the thin St. Lawrence.Lawrence.Yet a river with a city inside Yet a river with a city inside it,it,          with a thousand           with a thousand islands,islands,as Cartier found it,as Cartier found it,as Cabot discovered (I saw as Cabot discovered (I saw his facehis face     in the Ducal Palace in      in the Ducal Palace in Venice).Venice).

We have our physical heroes,We have our physical heroes,and are also a nationand are also a nationbuilt in the middle of water.built in the middle of water.Somehow a bigger place than Somehow a bigger place than we left it:we left it:a country with certain a country with certain resources,resources,     and a mind of its own, if      and a mind of its own, if lacking hunger.lacking hunger.The mountains of Gaspé doze, The mountains of Gaspé doze, reclining,reclining,               in the air vacant as                in the air vacant as morning.morning.At home, there will be faces full At home, there will be faces full of this light,of this light,          blank maybe, but           blank maybe, but beautiful.beautiful.Getting started is never easy.Getting started is never easy.We have work to do.We have work to do.          Europe is behind us.          Europe is behind us.               America before us                America before us

Analysis 2Analysis 2

The poem is about the discovery of North The poem is about the discovery of North America by Europeans and starting a brand America by Europeans and starting a brand new life in America.new life in America.

ParadoxParadox-blank maybe, but beautiful.-blank maybe, but beautiful.

we think the theme is we think the theme is determinationdetermination because because the founders of America were determined to the founders of America were determined to colonize and make this place awesome. colonize and make this place awesome.

We thought that this poem was well written and We thought that this poem was well written and we enjoyed reading it.we enjoyed reading it.

As language. . .As language. . .

As language. . .As language. . .Louis DudekLouis Dudek

From:   From:   "En Mexico""En Mexico". . Collected PoetryCollected Poetry. Montreal: . Montreal: Delta Canada, 1971. Delta Canada, 1971.

As language. . .Silence is also As language. . .Silence is also a language.a language.When there is no order in When there is no order in heavenheavenwe make what we makewe make what we makeby luck, or strength,by luck, or strength,or the composition of desire.or the composition of desire.Power growsPower grows          like vegetation,          like vegetation,and there are no preferences and there are no preferences under heaven. under heaven.

I do not know why a leaf I do not know why a leaf should be of less worthshould be of less worth                    than a Vatican,                    than a Vatican,or why builders care.or why builders care.The mathematical stones The mathematical stones recite their logicrecite their logicof cruelty and despair of cruelty and despair we arose to gratify some we arose to gratify some searchless reasonsearchless reasonshaping the empty air. shaping the empty air.

The poet in old ageThe poet in old ageThe poet in old ageThe poet in old ageLouis DudekLouis Dudek

From:   From:   From Continuation IIFrom Continuation II. Montreal: . Montreal: Vehicle Press, 1990. Vehicle Press, 1990.

The poet in old ageThe poet in old age            between Orpheus and Morpheus,            between Orpheus and Morpheus,cut off from the media, cut off from the media,

thinks that Jawsthinks that Jaws             is a movie about dentists.              is a movie about dentists.

Remember sexRemember sexas something he missedas something he missed                            in youth.                             in youth.

Find serenity of old ageFind serenity of old agean illusion.an illusion.

Spends his days meditatingSpends his days meditating      on things he will never do.       on things he will never do.

(Might take up a second career,(Might take up a second career,if he knew what he always knewif he knew what he always knew              he wanted to do)               he wanted to do)

Sleeps well, the first part of the night,Sleeps well, the first part of the night,            and any part of the day.             and any part of the day.

When asked, says he´s o.k.When asked, says he´s o.k.Doubts that you would listenDoubts that you would listen               to the whole story, anyway.                to the whole story, anyway.

Early MorningEarly Morning

Early MorningEarly MorningLouis DudekLouis Dudek

From:   From:   The Caged TigerThe Caged Tiger. Montreal: . Montreal: Empyreal Press, 1997. Empyreal Press, 1997.

Something that never was,Something that never was,                    that now is                    that now isand that again will not be and that again will not be

of which I am the observerof which I am the observer          (who will also not be)          (who will also not be)but who observes as from an eternitybut who observes as from an eternity                              of no time                              of no timethe moment now, the moment now,

the salesman who made a deal, the salesman who made a deal,     the young woman who paid him,     the young woman who paid him,the red-lipped college girls, bold, a bit the red-lipped college girls, bold, a bit shy,shy,     the counter girls on a coffee break,     the counter girls on a coffee break,                              the macho men,                               the macho men,

          all milling about unconsciousall milling about unconscious                    of one another                    of one anotherunconscious of the hand of timeunconscious of the hand of time

that makes all things vanish, all that makes all things vanish, all fade,fade,          all suffer change.          all suffer change.And they live today as if they And they live today as if they were forever,were forever,     when they are here only for a      when they are here only for a day. day.

And I observe, and I am like themAnd I observe, and I am like them                    only for a day                     only for a day

What is it that a poet What is it that a poet knowsknows

What is it that a poet knowsWhat is it that a poet knowsLouis DudekLouis Dudek

From:   From:   From AtlantisFrom Atlantis. in . in The The Poetry of Louis DudekPoetry of Louis Dudek. Ottawa: . Ottawa: The Golden Dog, 1998. The Golden Dog, 1998.

What is it that a poet knowsWhat is it that a poet knows                that tells him 'this is                 that tells him 'this is real?'real?'Some revelation, a gift of sight,Some revelation, a gift of sight,granted through an effort of the granted through an effort of the mind mind of infinite of infinite delight. delight.

All the time I have been writing on All the time I have been writing on the very edge of knowledge,the very edge of knowledge,

heard the real world whisperingheard the real world whispering   with an indistinct and    with an indistinct and liquid rustlingliquid rustling

as if to free, at last, an as if to free, at last, an inextricable meaning!inextricable meaning!Sought for words simpler, Sought for words simpler, smoother, more clean than any,smoother, more clean than any,                            

          only to clear the aironly to clear the airof an unnecessary obstruction…of an unnecessary obstruction…Not because I wanted to meddle Not because I wanted to meddle with the unknownwith the unknown        (I do not believe for a         (I do not believe for a moment that it can be done),moment that it can be done),but because the visible world but because the visible world seemed to be waiting,seemed to be waiting,                            as it always is,                            as it always is,somehow, to be revealedsomehow, to be revealed

Bibliography

Louis Dudek : Biography copyright @ 2000. February 16, 2010.http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/dudek

Whiteman, Bruce. Appreciation of Louis Dudek. Copyright 2001. February 16, 2010. http://www.vehiculepress.com/montreal/tribute_dudek.html