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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
"The Red Wheelbarrow," like so many other poems by Williams, is an experiment. It lacks punctuation, relies on chaotic or odd lineation, and generally blurs the customary distinctions between one thing or thought and another. He had a famous adage, "No ideas but in things," which I interpret to mean that when we talk about ideas, emotions, and abstractions, we must anchor them firmly in the world's things.
When I saw this tiny and sweet edition on vacation last summer, I couldn't resist it -- the few Williams poems I'd encountered in my Modern Poetry MOOC class had been among my favorites.
This collection starts right off with two of his most famous: "This is Just to Say" and "The Red Wheelbarrow," which is nice to know that they are both included, but then also gives one a feeling of sinking into further and further obscurity as one reads along. Early in the collection is also the delightful "Danse Russe" and spare "Poem" (everyone likes poems about cats). And of course, the "Portrait of a Lady," a poem about writing poetry is fun. And "Between Walls" about finding strange beauty in ugly places! And anyway when I started this paragraph I was making a case that the editor front-loaded this collection too heavily with the best known and best loved poems, but I seem to be undermining my own case as I skim through again.
I can say nothing new about Williams or his poetry. But I will say that I would have loved a little one-page bio of him included here. Otherwise, this edition is delightful, from its spare red cover with its white chickens to its French flaps and portable hand/pocket size to the red type and occasional chicken throughout.
Would be lovely for gifting for any mom/dad/grad season.
This collection starts right off with two of his most famous: "This is Just to Say" and "The Red Wheelbarrow," which is nice to know that they are both included, but then also gives one a feeling of sinking into further and further obscurity as one reads along. Early in the collection is also the delightful "Danse Russe" and spare "Poem" (everyone likes poems about cats). And of course, the "Portrait of a Lady," a poem about writing poetry is fun. And "Between Walls" about finding strange beauty in ugly places! And anyway when I started this paragraph I was making a case that the editor front-loaded this collection too heavily with the best known and best loved poems, but I seem to be undermining my own case as I skim through again.
I can say nothing new about Williams or his poetry. But I will say that I would have loved a little one-page bio of him included here. Otherwise, this edition is delightful, from its spare red cover with its white chickens to its French flaps and portable hand/pocket size to the red type and occasional chicken throughout.
Would be lovely for gifting for any mom/dad/grad season.
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
These, The Descent, Tract and The Ivy Crown are what i would consider to be perfect poems. One of those collections that just keeps you enthralled with its story-telling and form
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I genuinely loved this small collection of poems from William Williams. While a couple of the poems were not for me, most of them were. The Widow's Lament in Springtime, The Last Words of My English Grandmother, and Tract had to be my top three poems from the collection. A must have in any bookshelf of American poetry, or poetry period.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A