Ben Purkert
@benpurkert.bsky.social
debut novel, THE MEN CAN'T BE SAVED, Top 20 Book of 2023 Vanity Fair. words / poems in The New Yorker, The Nation, Slate. https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-men-can-t-be-saved-ben-purkert/19736868?ean=9781419767135
Reposted by Ben Purkert
Last week, the State Department cut funding for the International Writing Program, which brings writers from around the world to Iowa City. I wrote about why the IWP is precious, & how crucial it was for my education as a writer. Free post; no paywall.
garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/a-city-of-...
garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/a-city-of-...
March 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Last week, the State Department cut funding for the International Writing Program, which brings writers from around the world to Iowa City. I wrote about why the IWP is precious, & how crucial it was for my education as a writer. Free post; no paywall.
garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/a-city-of-...
garthgreenwell.substack.com/p/a-city-of-...
Reposted by Ben Purkert
Ms. Sharon lives near here. I met her last year. She’s been fighting this for a long time. She can’t sit on her porch midday and read her bible because of the stench from the plants. She can’t have a garden because the soil is poison. Her grandchildren can’t play in the grass. She’s exhausted.
Hmmm who lives near this plant? www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Biden said this plant was a health threat. Trump dropped a lawsuit against it
The Justice Department dropped a landmark lawsuit alleging that emissions from a Louisiana petrochemical plant pose a danger to nearby communities.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 8, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Ms. Sharon lives near here. I met her last year. She’s been fighting this for a long time. She can’t sit on her porch midday and read her bible because of the stench from the plants. She can’t have a garden because the soil is poison. Her grandchildren can’t play in the grass. She’s exhausted.
Reposted by Ben Purkert
I wrote about the Democrats, who are bad at this newrepublic.com/article/1921...
Why the Second Trump Presidency Is So Much Worse for Democrats
The first time around, the party had a plausible endgame for Trump’s reign. Today, that’s entirely absent.
newrepublic.com
March 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I wrote about the Democrats, who are bad at this newrepublic.com/article/1921...
Reposted by Ben Purkert
OMG the new poem by Diane Seuss crushed me. Now maybe let it crush you? poets.org/poem/life-im...
In life I’m no longer capable of love,
of that old feeling of being / in love, such a rusty / feeling, rusty,
poets.org
March 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM
OMG the new poem by Diane Seuss crushed me. Now maybe let it crush you? poets.org/poem/life-im...
It’s my 40th bday today and so I ate this WHOLE DAMN CAKE except the me part, boooom
March 2, 2025 at 5:56 PM
It’s my 40th bday today and so I ate this WHOLE DAMN CAKE except the me part, boooom
Reposted by Ben Purkert
Freedom is when the boss tells you what to write and think. bsky.app/profile/maxt...
New: Jeff Bezos emailed staff at the Washington Post this morning announcing that the Post opinion pages going forward were largely going to focus on defending personal liberties and free markets. Current opinion section editor David Shipley is out.
February 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Freedom is when the boss tells you what to write and think. bsky.app/profile/maxt...
currently reading an MFA student’s writing that is so staple-in-my-brain fucking brilliant I am wholly radioactive with delight, that is all, just needed you 2 know bye
February 26, 2025 at 2:41 AM
currently reading an MFA student’s writing that is so staple-in-my-brain fucking brilliant I am wholly radioactive with delight, that is all, just needed you 2 know bye
Reposted by Ben Purkert
“He said, you Americans are so naive. He said, you think that evil is going to come into your houses wearing big black boots and climb up the stairs—it begins in the language. Look to the language.”
-Joseph Brodsky, as recounted by Marie Howe themillions.com/2018/01/tk-t...
-Joseph Brodsky, as recounted by Marie Howe themillions.com/2018/01/tk-t...
February 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
“He said, you Americans are so naive. He said, you think that evil is going to come into your houses wearing big black boots and climb up the stairs—it begins in the language. Look to the language.”
-Joseph Brodsky, as recounted by Marie Howe themillions.com/2018/01/tk-t...
-Joseph Brodsky, as recounted by Marie Howe themillions.com/2018/01/tk-t...
Reposted by Ben Purkert
One thing Democratic leadership could do right now is to name an alternate HHS secretary--someone to provide ongoing public updates and health information. And do it for other departments too. Start showing voters what a Democratic government would look like--press conferences, speeches, all of it.
February 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
One thing Democratic leadership could do right now is to name an alternate HHS secretary--someone to provide ongoing public updates and health information. And do it for other departments too. Start showing voters what a Democratic government would look like--press conferences, speeches, all of it.
YEAH WE ARE, see u there 😵🙃🥂💫 @ruthmadievsky.bsky.social @sallywenmao.bsky.social @mobrowne.bsky.social
February 13, 2025 at 8:38 PM
YEAH WE ARE, see u there 😵🙃🥂💫 @ruthmadievsky.bsky.social @sallywenmao.bsky.social @mobrowne.bsky.social
i am the cranky old luddite writer i've always aspired to be 😍
January 30, 2025 at 7:56 PM
i am the cranky old luddite writer i've always aspired to be 😍
“I only eat leaves” is gonna be my new artist statement
January 12, 2025 at 4:28 PM
“I only eat leaves” is gonna be my new artist statement
very dear pal lost everything, please join me in helping if you can 💙
www.gofundme.com/f/support-li...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-li...
Donate to Support Liz, Ray, and Saeyu After Home Loss from Eaton Fire, organized by Liz Oh
Hi everyone, it’s Liz, Ray, and Saeyu~
We just learned that… Liz Oh needs your support for Support Liz, Ray, and Saeyu After Home Loss from Eaton Fire
www.gofundme.com
January 9, 2025 at 5:19 PM
very dear pal lost everything, please join me in helping if you can 💙
www.gofundme.com/f/support-li...
www.gofundme.com/f/support-li...
you are toasting with champagne for NYE, I am raising a glass of tap water for the midnight initiation of congestion pricing, WE ARE NOT THE SAME
January 5, 2025 at 3:01 AM
you are toasting with champagne for NYE, I am raising a glass of tap water for the midnight initiation of congestion pricing, WE ARE NOT THE SAME
entering 2025 with dark clouds and lightning bolts, cool cool cool
January 1, 2025 at 2:51 AM
entering 2025 with dark clouds and lightning bolts, cool cool cool
incredibly important that you all know in 2002 I proposed “palindrome” as my senior year prom theme and it was soundly rejected, can you BELIEVE
December 28, 2024 at 5:01 PM
incredibly important that you all know in 2002 I proposed “palindrome” as my senior year prom theme and it was soundly rejected, can you BELIEVE
submitted a letter of recommendation last night at 11:58pm before a midnight deadline, I've never felt more ALIVE
December 16, 2024 at 4:02 PM
submitted a letter of recommendation last night at 11:58pm before a midnight deadline, I've never felt more ALIVE
why does NYRB insist on absolutely fucking up my peace
December 14, 2024 at 6:22 PM
why does NYRB insist on absolutely fucking up my peace
Reposted by Ben Purkert
Night the black beard
a string running through it
with the sound of a breath
- W. S. Merwin, “The String”
a string running through it
with the sound of a breath
- W. S. Merwin, “The String”
December 14, 2024 at 2:29 AM
Night the black beard
a string running through it
with the sound of a breath
- W. S. Merwin, “The String”
a string running through it
with the sound of a breath
- W. S. Merwin, “The String”
say what you want, Kafka was a mensch
December 14, 2024 at 3:25 AM
say what you want, Kafka was a mensch
firmly cementing my reputation as The Guy Who Buys His Kid’s Kindergarten Teacher a Generous Gift Card for the Local Bookstore during the Holiday Season 💪
December 12, 2024 at 4:30 PM
firmly cementing my reputation as The Guy Who Buys His Kid’s Kindergarten Teacher a Generous Gift Card for the Local Bookstore during the Holiday Season 💪
some strong NYC vibes in these lines from Margaret Draft
December 7, 2024 at 8:42 PM
some strong NYC vibes in these lines from Margaret Draft
Reposted by Ben Purkert
bad poem bad poem, whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do now that I've written you
December 7, 2024 at 2:19 AM
bad poem bad poem, whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do now that I've written you