Robert Bly
Robert Bly: Poet, Translator, and Cultural Icon
Full Name and Common Aliases
Robert Bly was born on December 23, 1926, in Madison, Minnesota, as Robert North Bly. He is also known by his pen name, Regin Prentis.
Birth and Death Dates
Bly passed away on November 5, 2021, at the age of 94.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Bly was an American poet, translator, editor, and cultural icon. He is best known for his work as a poet and translator, but he also made significant contributions to literature and culture through his editing and writing endeavors.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Minnesota, Bly's early life was marked by a strong connection to the natural world and the poetry of Walt Whitman. His parents were both educators, and their home was filled with books and discussions about literature. Bly's love for poetry began at an early age, and he started writing his own poetry as a teenager.
Major Accomplishments
Bly's most significant accomplishments include:
Translating the works of major Scandinavian poets into English, including the poet Gustaf Fröding.
Editing several influential literary magazines, such as _The Fifties_ and _The Sixties._
Writing numerous poetry collections that explore themes of love, nature, and social justice.Notable Works or Actions
Some of Bly's most notable works include:
*"Light Around Me"_ (1960), his first collection of poetry.
"The Sailing of the Whale" (1962), a book-length poem that explores the relationship between humans and nature.
His influential translation of _The Wild Iris_ by Rainer Maria Rilke.
Bly's work as an editor and publisher helped launch the careers of many notable poets, including Adrienne Rich and William Matthews. He also co-founded the literary magazine _The Fifties_, which became a hub for innovative writing and thinking in the 1950s.
Impact and Legacy
Robert Bly's impact on literature and culture cannot be overstated. His poetry has been widely praised for its lyricism, depth, and exploration of themes that resonate with readers today. Through his translations, he brought the works of Scandinavian poets to an English-speaking audience, enriching our literary heritage.
Bly's influence extends beyond literature as well. He was a vocal advocate for social justice and human rights, participating in protests against the Vietnam War and advocating for Indigenous peoples' rights. His commitment to exploring the complexities of love and relationships has inspired generations of readers.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Robert Bly's reputation as a poet, translator, and cultural icon is based on his:
Innovative and expressive poetry that speaks to universal human experiences.
Visionary editing and publishing work that helped launch the careers of many notable poets.
Courageous advocacy for social justice and human rights.
Bly's influence can be seen in the work of contemporary poets and writers who continue to draw upon his themes, imagery, and style. His legacy as a cultural icon is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire, challenge, and transform us.
Quotes by Robert Bly
Robert Bly's insights on:
Hair is intuition. Hair is the abundance of perceptions, insights, thoughts, resentments, images, fantasies waiting and ready to come out whenever we are thinking of something else.
You say to yourself, Well, this poem isn’t going to be any good, but I’ll write it anyway.
As I’ve gotten older, I find I am able to be nourished more by sorrow and to distinguish it from depression.
The best poems take long journeys. I like poetry best that journeys – while remaining in the human scale – to the other world, which may be a place as easily overlooked as a bee’s wing.
If any help was going to arrive to lift me out of my misery, it would come from the dark side of my personality.
Something in the adolescent male wants risk, courts danger, goes out to the edge – even to the edge of death.
We did not come to remain whole. We came to lose our leaves like the trees, Trees that start again, Drawing up from the great roots.
Zeus energy, which encompasses intelligence, robust health, compassionate decisiveness, good will, generous leadership. Zeus energy is male authority accepted for the sake of the community.
Our story gives a teaching diametrically opposite. It says that where a man’s wound is, that is where his genius will be. Wherever the wound appears in our psyches, whether from alcoholic father, shaming mother, shaming father, abusing mother, whether it stems from isolation, disability, or disease, that is precisely the place for which we will give our major gift to the community.