litany of the green lion (2023)

Undergraduate: Alex Benedict

Faculty Advisor: Hassan Melehy
Department: English and Comparative Literature

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This thesis focuses on poet and publisher d.a.levy’s Cleveland undercovers, clearing ground for further research on his biography and publishing practices as well as comparative analysis with other poets. Before analyzing his long poem Cleveland undercovers, I first share a biography and confront misconceptions of his life and work. Following my introduction, I briefly review commentary on levy’s concrete poetry, Buddhism, and anti-capitalist revolutionary politics. From this discussion and my exploration of Cleveland undercovers, I argue that levy’s concrete poetry and revolutionary orientation developed from his Buddhist perspectives and practices. Reflecting on further research to pursue, I express the value in gathering the fragments of levy’s shattered biography; consider his relationship with other North American Buddhist poets; and emphasize the relevancy of his publishing practices for small presses today.

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