Richard Neftin

The Black Book

I read a lot of poetry, particularly the Slavic poets whose culture I feel a shared and deep connection. When in the bookstores, I rummage through the stacks to seek out the lengthy, tongue-defiant Cyrillic-in-translation names and sometimes find one. A Yevtushenko, an Akhmatova, a Herbert, or a Zagajewski. I have a signed Voznesensky to my credit. My collection is meagre.