Poem of the Day: Hollywood Elegies

[Arnold Richards]

From: Poetry 
Subject: Poem of the Day: Hollywood Elegies
Reply-To: Poetry Foundation <in...@poetryfoundation.org>



Having trouble viewing this email? Click here to view it in your browser. Hollywood Elegies By Bertolt Brecht Translated by Translated from the German by Adam Kirsch                                      1 Under the long green hair of pepper trees, The writers and composers work the street. Bach’s new score is crumpled in his pocket, Dante sways his ass-cheeks to the beat.                                      2 The city is named for the angels, And its angels are easy to find. They give off a lubricant odor, Their eyes are mascara-lined; At night you can see them inserting Gold-plated diaphragms; For breakfast they gather at poolside Where screenwriters feed and swim.                                      3 Every day, I go to earn my bread In the exchange where lies are marketed, Hoping my own lies will attract a bid.                                      4 It’s Hell, it’s Heaven: the amount you earn Determines if you play the harp or burn.                                      5 Gold in their mountains, Oil on their coast; Dreaming in celluloid Profits them most. A Note from the Editor 40 years ago, Princess Grace of Monaco, a.k.a. actor and superstar Grace Kelly, died due to complications from a car crash. Read translator Adam Kirsch's notes on rendering Brecht's feelings of "despair and alienation in the midst of California’s peace and abundance." Source: Poetry (June 2011) Please note: We strive to preserve the text formatting of poems over email, but certain email clients may distort how character indent, line wraps, and fonts appear. View this poem online More about Bertolt Brecht Biography More Poems by this Author Subscribe to Poetry Get Poetry You have received this email because you submitted your email address at www.poetryfoundation.org. You may unsubscribe or change your newsletter subscription preferences at any time. © 2022 Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation 61 W. Superior Street Chicago, IL 60654 USA