Now and Then: The Poet's Choice Columns, 1997-2000

Hass did a great job during his tenure as poet laureate, and as the first and best of the Washington Post's Poet's Choice columnists. He found interesting poets, filled in enough of their background, and made relevant choices from their work. Even someone fairly familiar with contemporary poetry can find something new and interesting here.

Robert Hass has a most gentle and generous intelligence. You can experience this in each one of his brief literary columns introducing a poem, poet or poetic theme. His love of language and knowledge of poetry inspires as much as it touches. I savor each small essay the way a chocolate lover would cherish an elegant truffle. His honesty cuts through sentiment and the historical aspect of each column connects me to my own past. As with any of Hass' books, I cannot recommend this one highly enough. I searched it out and bought it the day a friend graciously told me of its publication. You might say, over the years, I have become a quiet Robert Hass addict, doubly satisfied these days by the publication of his book of poems, Time and Materials.