Thanks for listening to Bookworm. I'm host Michael Silverblatt. If there's another podcast that comes from us at KCRW that I really like is the treatment with Elvis Mitchell. I've said it for a long time. Elvis's style of interviewing is like jazz. He orchestrates so many interesting moments and gets people to say such

surprising and interesting things about film, about popular culture. He really knows his subject,

and he's one of the very best in the country. Listen to the treatment.

Funds for Bookworm are provided in part by Lannin Foundation.

Boots!

Where would we be without boos? Where would we be without good?

No, Tintuberg. It's a rhetorical question, sir, but where would we be without good? No, Timberg. It's a rhetorical question, sir.

But where would we be without books?

From KCRW and KCRW.com, I'm Michael Silverblatt, and this is Bookworm.

Today is a very interesting and exciting show.

My guest is Peter Cole. His book is called

The Invention of Influence. It's a book of poetry published by New Directions. But I would say

that his poetry is the culmination of a whole series of studies and practices and translations that begins

in being interested in and translating the works of Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah.

Now, first of all, what is Kabbalah?

Well, first of all, it's wonderful to be here with you.

It's a pleasure to be here with you, yes.

The word Kabbalah just means tradition or really more literally it means reception.

Reception.

And, you know, reception, receptivity for a poet is everything.

And certainly for a translator too.

If you think about John Keats or even stranger poets like Jack Spicer,

...