Title: Principal products of Portugal : prose pieces /
Authors: Hall, Donald, 1928-2018.
Publisher: Beacon Press,
Year: 1995
Subjects: American essays
Abstract: Collected here for the first time are Hall's reminiscences of time spent with the sculptor Henry Moore, appreciations of his sports heroes such as Bob Cousy, Red Auerbach, Carlton Fisk, and his insightful and inspiring readings of fellow poets, E.A. Robinson, Andrew Marvell, James Wright, and others. This undeniably eclectic mix is a celebration and catalog of a writer's subjects. In Hall's words, "The title should please not only for its prodigious procession of p's but for bringing back memories of rote recitation standing in the third grade doing the multiplication tables, 7's maybe, or maybe the principal products of Portugal."
Contents: Ballad of the republic -- Trees -- Words of Henry Adams -- On moving one's lips, while reading -- The darkened parlor -- Graveyard people -- Bluejeans and Robert Francis -- Art for life for art -- The unsayable said -- Marvell's manyness -- Long Robinson -- Lament for a maker -- Long live the dead -- Reading, sorrow, and dread -- Henry Moore's day -- Cousy's fires -- Auerbach in bronze -- October's shortstop -- Pitching forever -- Generations of Carlton Fisk -- The swing in 1941 -- The continuous party -- Grandfathering -- War cardds, purpose, and blame -- Afterword: "We have lived by our wits."