Coming off of our July Fourth holiday, “Washington, George”, filmed by poet and writer Andrew James Weatherhead at Mt. Vernon, the first president’s home in Virginia, felt like the perfect way to celebrate America–as well as our particular penchant for found poetry. Weatherhead’s un-found poetry (though–Andrew–do we think in some way all poems are found? Tweet us.) is sometimes humorous and always real good.
Where are you from, and where are you currently living?
I’m from Wilmette, Illinois and I currently live in Brooklyn.
Where did you find the list that is the foundation of this poem? Why did it stand out to you?
The list is from the book 1776 by David McCullough. It’s an ok book — it outlines the events of its eponymous year, a pivotal one in the revolution, but doesn’t really get into broader causes or consequences. (For that reason, I’d like to plug Gordon Wood’s The Radicalism of the American Revolution as a much more fulfilling account.)
I was intrigued by George Washington’s entry in the index of 1776 because I found it strangely lyrical and full of oddly expressive word choices — for example, instead of saying “uniform and grooming of” it says “impeccable uniform and grooming of”. It’s also packed with drama and uncanny juxtapositions, like how “periods of discouragement and distress of” is followed immediately by “perseverance and determination of”, or how “assassination plot against” is followed by “birth of”.
Have you considered George Washington in your poetry before?
I’ve tried to write a more “traditional” (i.e. not found) poem about George Washington but it’s always come out flat. It’s hard to write biographical poetry about historical figures, I’ve found. I should point out, though, that Lorine Niedecker has an amazing poem about Thomas Jefferson, called “Thomas Jefferson”. I’d love to do the George Washington version of that, I think.
What brought you to Mt. Vernon that day?
I was visiting Washington D.C. with my mom. We also went to the National Gallery and took a tour of the Capitol Building.
In the background we hear gleeful children playing. Do you have thoughts on that as the soundtrack for this reading?
That’s funny… I actually don’t remember there being kids there that day. Like it might’ve been just one kid making enough noise for three or four kids. Kids are cool though — they’re small and funny.
Do you like this poem?
I love this poem because it’s awesome.
Which readings have most impacted you as a poet? Who would you most like to see read?
I’m a huge dork when it comes to readings — I used to go to readings by myself all the time (I say that like I don’t still do…) and I keep my ipod well-stocked with readings, podcasts, audiobooks, lectures, etc. I think I’ve probably been more impacted by recordings of readings than readings themselves for the simple fact that I can replay them. One thing I love is when an author reads one of his/her books in its entirety, as Ron Padgett’s did with his book, The Big Something, or Lewis Warsh has done with his The Origin of the World, or Ted Berrigan once did with The Sonnets. I wish I could have seen Ted Berrigan read in person.
this is an awesome poem. funny guy in the interview too. fine taste
it’s great this poem. it should go for longer. much, much longer