finished Kashner's book, now reading Niedecker and the Correspondence with Zukofsky 1931-1970 by Jenny Penberthy. (Cambridge 1993). an extensive discussion of their letter writing, and a selection of her letters to him. wish the Zukofsky side were included, tho notes are perspicacious. a couple of iconoclasts, in their different ways. it's a little painful to read, as they had an affair in the 30s, and apparently she had an abortion, then later she identifies strongly with Paul. the child that might've been. I don't want to psychoanalyze too much, but you can see the way it developes. part of her interest is imbibing in Louis's (Louie, as she calls him (and lots of other things)) affection for his son. one notes that in his poems, as cool as Z's poetry can be: the warm presence of both Paul and Celia. Celia wrote to Cid Corman that LZ created Niedecker and that 90% of her work consisted of his revision. issues here and there. LN must've been lonely, or starved, for the wider world, tho happy enough in her rural circumstance. she had a Dickinsonian sort of quick wit and flippancy, and perhaps some of Emily's intensity, tho she was better adapted to the world than ED. I compare to ED cautiously, by the way. must acknowledge a sexist perplexity in both, but I don't want to lump them togetehr just cuz. ED's revolution occurred within a strict and restricted world. LN's was within different boundaries, but you see in the letters right along a courageous fight. not to say there isn't a revolution in LZ's persistence. both poets cause me to consider my own effort and dedication. reading Kashner's view of Naropa, which I acknowldge as a view, I see the wrong thing held up. not so much by Kashner, whose recollection strikes me as fairly level-eyed and questioning, but in the idea of fame that surrounds these characters. how important charisma is. it's not their fault that FAME applied itself to Ginsberg, Corso, Burroughs, Kerouac (and not hardly to LN), but the reader hadn't ought to add that to the work. and a-hole rinpoche is just a scam, empty words empty.