Innovative Poet and Language Movement Pioneer Lyn Hejinian Passes Away at 82
The literary world mourns the sudden loss of Lyn Hejinian, a distinguished American poet, essayist, translator, and publisher, who passed away at the age of 82. Hejinian was a towering figure in experimental and avant-garde poetry, renowned for her association with the Language poets and her influential works such as “My Life” and “The Language of Inquiry.” Her profound contributions to American literature and her pivotal role as a founding member of the Language poetry movement in the 1970s have left an enduring mark on the landscape of contemporary poetry.
Hejinian’s poetry was revered for its innovative approach to lyricism and its exploration of everyday life through a prism that transcended conventional narrative forms. Her notable collections, including “My Life” (Burning Deck, 1980), “The Book of a Thousand Eyes” (Omnidawn, 2012), and “The Fatalist” (Omnidawn, 2003), showcased her distinctive voice and her commitment to pushing the boundaries of poetic expression. “My Life and My Life in the Nineties” (Wesleyan University Press, 2013) stands as a testament to her evolving poetic vision and her ability to interweave personal history with broader cultural and political themes.
Informed by a theoretically sophisticated poetics, Hejinian’s work sought to challenge and expand the possibilities of language. As a central figure in the Language writing movement, her poetry often grappled with progressive politics and social theory, embodying a community-centered approach to art. Through her exploration of the political dimensions of conventional language usage, Hejinian’s work transcended both mainstream political poetry and the identity-centric verse that characterized much of the left-wing poetry of her era.
Her influence on American poetry and her investigation of the intricate relationship between language and perception have been widely acknowledged by poets and critics alike. Juliana Spahr, among others, has underscored the relevance of Viktor Shklovsky’s concept of “making strange” and Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophical insights into the limitations of language as essential for comprehending Hejinian’s contributions to the field.
Throughout her illustrious career, Hejinian garnered numerous honors and awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Writing Fellowship from the California Arts Council, and a Translation Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2007, she was appointed Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, a role that celebrated her significant contributions to American poetry.
Beyond her own literary endeavors, Hejinian was deeply committed to nurturing the work of others. As a professor in the English Department at the University of California, Berkeley, she influenced countless students over the years. Additionally, she made a lasting impact as a publisher and editor, guiding Tuumba Press and co-editing Poetics Journal with Barrett Watten, as well as serving as a coeditor for Atelos, a publication dedicated to collaborative works between poets and artists across genres.
Lyn Hejinian’s passing represents an irreplaceable loss to the literary community and to all who were touched by her work. Her legacy as a trailblazer of Language poetry and as an advocate for experimental art forms will endure, continuing to inspire and challenge readers and writers for generations to come.
