Poet LLOYD VAN BRUNT (pronounced like "grunt"). He grew up poor and white in Oklahoma. He writes, in the The New York Times magazine section, "To be poor in a country that places a premium on wealth is in itself shameful. To be white and poor is unforgiveable." (March 27, 1994). BRUNT says poor whites have no defenders ("white trash" they are called) and they are made to feel ashamed of themselves because of the assumption that they "should" be able to make a success of themselves. BRUNT's father abandoned the family, his mother died when he was 8. BRUNT spent years in foster homes and orphanages where he was abused. BRUNT has written several volumes of poetry. His latest is "Poems New and Selected 1962 - 1992," (The Smith, Brooklyn). He's currently working on his memoir, "I fall in Love with Nancy Drew: Tales of Childhood.
Copyright 1994 Fresh Air