Blaise Cirelli, Poet

Cirelli was born 1 January 1952 in Philadelphia. He describes himself as having a Buddhist leaning and being "Leftist Apolitical." His publication credits include Agniezewska's Diary, VIA, Zaum, Blind Donkey and Talus and Scree, and his etry's been written up in the San Louis Obispo Local newspaper. Contemporary poets he admires include Michael Palmer, Lyn Hejinian, Mei Mei Bruseenbugge (spelling?), Robert Hass, Ron Padgett and Robert Pinsky. He also admires the work of Ezra Pound, Homer, William Carlos Williams, Loraine Niedecker, Frank O'Hara, Shelley, Browning and Tennyson.

Critics important to him are Charles Altieri, Helen Vendler, Marjorie Perloff and Forest Gander.

As a reader of poetry, he enjoys "Experimental, Meditative Lyric" poetry--and not "Nature (Because how can you not like nature? I'd rather be in nature than read about it)." His impression of the current scene is that "There seem to be a lot of diocre poets getting published."

Among his favorite books are: The Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment and The Sorrows of Young Werther. He lists two favorite movies: Black Robe and Il Postino. The sculpture of Henry Moore is important to him. About philosophy he says, "I wish I could understand Wittgenstein." On life-in-general: "Some peop are born with failure, others have it thrust upon them." His Favorite name for a cat: Spot (if it has spots); Favorite food: organic turnips.

For a sample of Cirelli's poetry click here.

Click here to go to the Comprepoetica Biographical Entries Home Page.

If you are just randomly browsing through the biographical entries at Comprepoetica, click here to see another.

Click here to go to the Comprepoetica Home Page.