Dark Fields of the Republic: Poems, 1991-1995

Rating:
Summary: Good, but has she lost her relevance?
Review: I have long been an admirer of Rich's beautiful poetry and ideas. Even though a male reader, I have found her company through her books over the years some of the best. However, in this volume, there is a real lack of vision. Rich comes accross at times like a parody of herself and her causes--instead of celebrating the victories, she acts as if she is hidden and on-the-run. This attitude hurts this otherwise interesting book. Her meditations on aging that appear throughout several poems in this volume are affecting and exciting, but there is still something missing. If you've never read Rich before, start with the works of the seventies; if you have read and loved Rich, then pick this up and settle in with a dear, if slightly crusty, slightly out-of-touch old friend.