Rating: Summary: A brilliant collection for the peripatetic reader of poetry Review: A brilliant collection of poems by scores of poets from various countries and various eras. A book that will be well-thumbed by the peripatetic reader who moves from form to form, and from image to image. Milosz's commentary is also poetic. Sometimes he simply provides facts about a poem or a poet, but usually he frames the poem, as if hanging a border to concentrate the qualities of each poem in the reader's eye
Rating: Summary: Nirvana for Poets and Poetry Lovers Review: I can't say emphatically enough that this book has only the very best poetry, no junk, no rants, no cusswords, no harangues, just wise minds speaking through their poetic voices.
If a poem has ever changed your life...
If you write poetry...
If you read poetry...
If you want to write poetry...
If you are curious about how people think about things...
If you want to understand people better...
read this International Anthology of Poetry skillfully edited by Czeslaw Milosz.
While you may not feel connected to every poet, you are sure to discover poets and poetic thoughts that make you feel understood, perhaps for the first time.
Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: I Keep This in My Glovebox Review: I have ordered this book for my college English classes for the past four years. Each time I browse through it I find something new, something valuable. I do indeed keep a copy in my car's glovebox. I pull it out if I find myself stuck somewhere and I read a poem or two. The selections are indeed eclectic and span the globe. They are loosely arranged by theme and my international students assure me that the translations are good and truly reflect the spirit of the originals. I recommend this highly to people who love poetry and to those who think they might someday at least like it.
Rating: Summary: I Keep This in My Glovebox Review: I have ordered this book for my college English classes for the past four years. Each time I browse through it I find something new, something valuable. I do indeed keep a copy in my car's glovebox. I pull it out if I find myself stuck somewhere and I read a poem or two. The selections are indeed eclectic and span the globe. They are loosely arranged by theme and my international students assure me that the translations are good and truly reflect the spirit of the originals. I recommend this highly to people who love poetry and to those who think they might someday at least like it.
Rating: Summary: PRETTY GOOD Review: I thought that this book had some very good poems. Yet, as reading through the ENTIRE book, many of the selected pieces were rather dull. Overall though, it was an enjoyable book of many different types of poetry.
Rating: Summary: An expertly selected volume Review: I've never seen an anthology that is such an act of beauty in itself. The selection of poems and commentary support a beautiful range of poems that are fresh & vital, brief & accessible. I can imagine this used to turn people on to poetry, as these poems always hit a nerve and are never obscure or bland. It is not comprehensive in a sense of poetic history, but it serves well as a collection for inspiration & meditation which will neither daunt the person new to poetry or insult the intellect of the scholar.
Rating: Summary: MANY GEMS Review: MOSTLY POLISH, ASIAN, CZECH, FRENCH,NATIVE AMERICAN AND AMERICAN POETRY. TURNED ME ON TO ROETHKE'S 'CARNATIONS'--AMAZING. A STRONG ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF FAVORITES. NICE TO HAVE CZESLAW'S BRIEF COMMENTS AS A PREAMBLE TO CHOSEN POEM'S HISTORY, ET AL.
Rating: Summary: Good collection with at least one typo Review: My confidence in this personal and somewhat quirky collection was undermined when I turned to W.S. Merwin's lovely and powerful "For the Anniversary of My Death," (which begins "Every year without knowing it I have passed the day/ When the last fires will wave to me")and saw to my dismay that it had a typo in the last line, changing "bowing" to "boding" and thereby wrecking the poem. Unfortunate oversight. Neruda and other South Americans are noticeable by their absence, begging the question of whether Milosz harbors a grudge.
Rating: Summary: Good collection with at least one typo Review: My confidence in this personal and somewhat quirky collection was undermined when I turned to W.S. Merwin's lovely and powerful "For the Anniversary of My Death," (which begins "Every year without knowing it I have passed the day/ When the last fires will wave to me")and saw to my dismay that it had a typo in the last line, changing "bowing" to "boding" and thereby wrecking the poem. Unfortunate oversight. Neruda and other South Americans are noticeable by their absence, begging the question of whether Milosz harbors a grudge.
Rating: Summary: A Sublime Anthology Review: The poetry in this diverse volume lives up to the lofty title on the book cover. Indeed, the poetry therein is luminous. From Haiku and dead moths to drangonfly wings and Jeffers' hurt hawks, this anthology is great for any ocassion. I discovered it while traveling, and it proved a lovely travel companion. It made the trip especially memorable and much more endurable, in that the poetry unceasingly provided me opportunity to reflect on the human condition and elemental themes. The more interesting aspect of this anthology happens to accord with the editor's own writing philosophy--which focuses on celebrating the ordinary--to demonstrate that the world is imbued with poetic spirit in simple facts--simple happenings that may easily be overlooked by the distracted passerby. I recommend this volume to anyone, esp. the contributions of Herbert, Hass, Milosz, Jeffers, and Szymborska.
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