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Levine on Bass's Poem
- Phil Levine discusses his reaction to Ellen Bass's poem "What Did I Love".
- He admires the poem's power, complexity, and precision, noting the tenderness amidst the surgical slaughter.
Ritual and Awareness
- Levine notes the sense of ritual, clarity of purpose, and surprising awareness in Bass's poem.
- He contrasts it with his own butchering poem, which lacked her precision and immediacy despite sharing a love for the tools and process.
Holy City Visit
- Phil Levine visited Mulay Idris, a holy city in the Atlas Mountains, after being told he couldn't stay overnight.
- A man told him it was because he wasn't Muslim and he'd have to cut his throat.