Bücher der Reihe Contemporary Poetry Series

The poems in this first book by Halpern are diverse in form, style, and substance. Still the book as a whole has a central pattern: a movement back and forth between the polarities of experience. The poems are animated by a tension of conflict between these polarities.

Directly or obliquely, while reading Gibbon or shopping for toys at F.A.O. Schwarz, Slavitt addresses, invokes, or simply enjoys the civilization that has been the poet's true subject from the time of the wandering bards. Upon the foundation of technical mastery, he has begun to build an oeuvre to assert himself, and, with insouciance and gaiety, to grow into his majority.

In this, his third book of poetry, Garrett presents recent poems that enhance a reputation already well established for charm of language, a frank and perceptive approach to experience, strong images, and a large understanding of life and feelings.

The essential mind-mysteries are the subject of Vance's poems. Themes of mutability, maturation, discovery, and delight are projected through brilliant archetypal imagery controlled and perfected by a striking technical assurance. The poems are concentrated and sometimes demanding, but they are never obscure and they go deep.

This volume of poetry illustrates a new side of the author of The Carnivore and Suits for the Dead. The wit, the toughness, the shining lyric clarity of the earlier books are still here, but they have been joined by a quiet understanding, a joyfulness, and an acceptance of things as they are that indicates the poet has moved into a new and exciting period.

The twenty-five poems included in this collection present a poet mature in both craft and perception and possessed of a fine capacity for being both lyric and analytic at the same time. There is no posturing, but always a position, both thought and felt.