Degrees Of Gray In Philipsburg Comments

Hugo rated this his best poem; I do too. There is wit-'streets laid out by the insane' and a tender ending 'whose red hair lights the wall'.

Richard Hugo tells it like is for small town America. These towns are gray. I come from one in northeast pa. And yes the prison is still there, so is the tavern where I had my first illegal beer, but the churches are going fast and nothing seems to move forward. I have always admired Hugo for his realism and grit. Check out his Dream Poems, they are beautiful.

O.K. I'm only 82, but I know the feeling.