Sunday, February 06, 2005

High Art

I don't know about you, but I can count on one hand the collections of poetry that are entirely made of solid poems. (Not a single filler, lesser, or 'bridge' poem. These of course are limited to the collections I actually own.) The Orchard is one of those powerful collections. If you don't have it, I highly recommend it. I am wowed, truly, wowed. If I ever have the good fortune to meet B.P.K. I have already made a solemn promise to myself to keep my mouth shut. This will assure that I won't make a blathering-star-struck idiot out of myself.


11 comments:

A. D. said...

Amazon is being horrible and hasn't shipped any of the books that I ordered so long ago--including The Orchard. Glad to see that you've enjoyed it.

C. Dale said...

Glad to have played a part in your discovery of The Orchard. Brigit is phenomenal. She just is. As for being quiet when you meet her, I wish I had learned that lesson before I met Li-Young Lee. I made a total fool of myself, so much so that when he told me he had read my first book I told him that he was lying. When he started to quote titles of the poems, I ran away like a little girl.

LKD said...

Oh, Suzannah, don't you cry for me. (smile) Instead, lay the titles of the other collections you deem to be comprised/constructed entirely of solid poems on my knee. Please? Seriously, I'm curious.

Besides, I like your taste in poetry. You've pointed me towards a few poets I otherwise might not have found on my own (oh, Bibbins!....sigh) that I've ended up falling head over heels for.

Laurel

Suzanne said...

AD,
Amazon has been really bad with shipping lately. Don't worry, The Orchard is worth the wait.

C.Dale,
I swear it must an Aries thing. I have a very similiar story, although I must say yours is funnier since it wasn't me. *lol*

Laurel,
I have such eclectic taste! I'm worried that I'll steer you in the wrong direction. Don't forget, you hated Mary Oliver's, "Poppies" poem I recommended and it's one of my all time faves!

Peter said...

Thanks for the reccomendation, Suzanne. I'll have to check out THE ORCHARD. I met BPK at the Vermont Studio Center, and she was very nice, led an interesting workshop.
In terms of solid books with "no filler," the only one I can think of off-hand is Louise Gluck's THE WILD IRIS. It is one of the few books I return to again and again, and still find fresh and invigorating and inspiring.

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Suzanne said...

Peter, thanks for stopping by, you're obviously much cooler than me and were able to converse naturally with BPK. *lol* I love the "Wild Iris," too. :-)

[waving arms madly, Laurel, check out the "Wild Iris," if you get a chance.]

Unknown said...

The Orchard is one of my favorite books. Have you read Song? That's another amazing book BPK wrote.

dba

Suzanne said...

Hi Deb,
I have read Song and I loved it, too. :-)

early hours of sky said...

You are taunting me, aren't you? I still can't find it.

Suzanne said...

T, Did you look under the bed? I have found countless books under the bed. :-0