BIO

Raised in Lincoln, Virginia, Henry Taylor attended the University of Virginia, where he was active in the drama club and starred in a number of plays. A talented equestrian, Taylor (and his horse) tried out for the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team [teacher's note: Since I don't know much about horses, I can't tell you exactly which category Taylor was in. We'll try to clear that up soon], narrowly missing being selected for the squad.

Taylor, a lifelong Virginian, lives in Leesburg and teaches creative writing and poetry at American University. He is regarded as one of the top poets in America today. Taylor received the Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for The Flying Change . Other Taylor books of poetry include Understanding Fiction and a book of clerihews (short, humorous, limerick-esque poems) he published in 2000.

Kenny Carroll--no slouch himself as a poet--says matter-of-factly, "Henry Taylor is the man." I, and every poet and verse aficianado with whom I have spoken, happen to agree. Henry Taylor is "scary smart," a masterful impersonator, funny as the dickens, and a brilliant poet to boot. Taylor may get upset with me for the poem I'm choosing to share. It's very uncharacteristic of Taylor in that it's only four lines and seemingly light. It was published in the book of his which won the Pulitzer. In fact, he told me that one Pulitzer committee member didn't like the poem at all and told Taylor's wife, "Don't let him write anything like that ever again." Unlike the Pulitzer judge--whose identity I will happily reveal to you for $5--I like the poem. I think it's a lot deeper than it seems and is a trenchent, wry commentary on relationships (or on one particular relationship). Some may argue that it isn't even a poem. To Taylor's credit, he admits that this poem was merely a "jotting" and he's not even sure what he thinks of it.

Is this a relationship in which both partners are comfortable and at ease with one another, or does the poem insinuate that the relationship is stale? Or, is it more about one's mortality? CAP students argue about this every year. I have my view. What's yours?:

"Airing Linen"

Wash and dry,
sort and fold;
you and I
are growing old.