Relationship, Place, and Company: A Conversation with Robert Creeley about Robert Duncan

Abstract

This article presents a transcribed conversation between James Maynard and poet Robert Creeley, discussing Creeley's relationship with the late poet Robert Duncan. The dialogue took place in February 2002, involving graduate students from the University at Buffalo’s Poetics Program. Creeley shares anecdotes about Duncan's life, artistic practices, and interactions with institutions and fellow poets. Key topics include Duncan's visits to religious sites, his confrontations with institutional indifference towards poetry readings, and his contentious exchange with poet Barrett Watten. The article argues that Duncan's approach to poetry was deeply personal and often at odds with mainstream academic or cultural institutions. Creeley's reflections highlight Duncan's unique contributions to American poetry and his enduring influence on the literary community.

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