blurstoftimes 's review for:

Second Space: New Poems by Czesław Miłosz

3.0

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3.5 really.

Milosz is a powerful poet and deft storyteller, but some of the content here is really lacking in terms of propulsion and significance. I am particularly bothered by the overt preachy overtones—when you’re writing poetry about religion, that has to be the hugest literary sin you can make.

However, I like the interior aspects of Second Space: the dubious offset to our earthly experience and the questions that makes us ask ourselves: mainly, what next after life?

Part 1 was my favorite because of how it organized thoughts on memory, exile, destructive history, and surviving the war.

Part 2 has its strong points when touching on the crux of piety in a sinful world (seen here ostensibly through the eyes of a Roman Saint).

Part 3 is mostly cryptic and babbling, but it is readable and engaging for those who wish to read of Milosz’ many thoughts on theology. I was turned off many times.

Part 4 is quicksand substituting for textual potency. Leave immediately.

Part 5 is fine. A decent end encapsulated through one of the most renowned stories ever. This was the last piece he would write before his death.

I love Milosz but this probably was not the best place to start with him. I’ll do The Captive Mind next.