SOURCE: “A Plain Brave Music,” in Chelsea, No. 12, September, 1962, pp. 135-39.

In the following essay, Wright describes the language from Ignatow's first three collections as pure and powerful.

The poetry of David Ignatow has so far appeared in three books: Poems (The Decker Press, Prairie City, Ill., 1948), The Gentle Weight Lifter (Morris Gallery, 1955), and Say Pardon (Wesleyan University Press, 1961). A number of periodicals have also printed his work; but it was not until quite recently, I believe, that his work began to receive the critical attention that it deserves. I suppose the first of his volumes is out of print by now. But by good luck I have found a copy, and I have been reading it with delight.

The book contains a remarkable introduction by Milton Hindus. He points out the strength of Mr. Ignatow's imagination and the courage which nourishes that strength; the “organic” form of...