Kenneth Rexroth

American poet and translator Kenneth Rexroth (December 221905 – June 61982) was among the first poets in the United States to explore Japanese poetry traditions such as haiku. He is credited with having led the "poetry renaissance" in San Francisco and was associated with the Beat Generation, although he was later critical of the movement. Rexroth's poetry, essays and journalism reflect interests in jazz, politics, culture and ecology. Rexroth's poetic voice is similar to that of Du Fu, whom he translated, expressing indignation with the inequities of the world from an existential perspective.

Major achievements

During the 1970s Rexroth, along with the scholar Ling Chung, translated the notable Sung Dynasty poet Li Ch'ing-chao and an anthology of Chinese women poets, titled The Orchid Boat.

Related Topics:
1970s - Sung Dynasty - Li Ch'ing-chao

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With The Love Poems of Marichiko, Rexroth claimed to have translated the poetry of a long dead Japanese poet, but it was later disclosed he was the author and he gained critical recognition for having conveyed so authentically feelings of someone of another gender, culture, and time period.

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