Buying an anthology of poetry felt like stepping back in time when poetry was the thing to do. It felt smart. Cultured.
I’m doing so. I rediscovered the art of the verbal snapshot. I’ve written poetry throughout the years, but haven’t immersed myself in learning from poetry already written.
And so, in a family trip to Maine, I read Milosz’s, “A Book of Luminous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry “. Milosz received a Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980, plus other accolades. I figured, with his credentials, this would be a perfect buy.
It was nearly perfect.
What I loved most was the diversity of themes and perspectives, and his color commentary and context of the poet and/or their work. I was once again a student of the art. It reminded me of the beauty of a moment captured, in some distance, in time and space. Memorialized.
There’s a different relationship with poetry than other forms of writing. I find myself often wanting to pause and repeat a line…let the words play between tongue, teeth, and lips, letting the rhythm flow around them like a brook meandering around stones, roots, and embankments. Even in bitter words, there is a sweetness in reflection.
I was hoping for a bit broader reach, globally, in what he selected. It has to be true that there is so much more to be drawn from below the equator. So, I’ll need to search it out.
I recommend the book, for sure. Gives me hope that maybe someday, someone may want a book of my poetry. Let’s make poetry cool again…open the salons and dig deep into these snapshots of life.
My review on Goodreads (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️): Milosz includes some excellent and diverse styles and perspectives. It’s worth reading every poem. I was hoping and expecting a more globally diverse selection. Seemed to focus on American, European, and Asian poets, and drew repeatedly from the same pool. So…it’s an international anthology, but was hoping for a broader scope. All-in-all, though, a book I will reference often, as he does an excellent job categorizing and providing color to each piece.
a tilting of air 