The Poetry of E.A. Robinson (Modern Library)

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Summary: the best of a great American poet
Review: E A Robinson has long been respected in American poetry--by poets such as Frost and Yvor Winters. It's no wonder why, Robinson has a command over form and language we don't often get to see. Just look at poems as diverse as "The Valley of the Shadow," "Eros Turannos," "The Mill," and "Aunt Imogen." Or you could look at his three most famous poems, the poems that we know Robinson for: "Richard Cory," "Reuben Bright," and "Miniver Cheevy." I don't need to tell you why you need to read Robinson, that should be evident already. Mezey's edition is a great one because it is an inexpensive edition that contains the best poems by Robinson--and notes to many of them. There are also three appendices. One contains various quotes from Robinson himself as well as a brief selection of comments by other poets and critics on Robinson. And as a special treat there is the introduction Robert Frost wrote for King Jasper. And Mezey's introduction is well-written and informative.

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Summary: Abby is not my real name - Bwa ha ha ha ha!!!
Review: E. A. Robinson...genius...phsycho? How about both? Though Robinson's poetry flows in a lyrical way - it has a tendancy for ending in some dismal image such as a suicide (Richard Cory). Sure it is refreshing that he's not writing that everything is so wonderful like some poets do. However I am rather turned off by the poets who have some sort of rhyming scheme to their poetry. I much prefer Emily Dickinson - short, simple, powerful. I find myself distracted reading Robinson where as when I read Dickonson I can find myself wholely absorbed in the poetry. Some of the images portrayed in his poetry (New England in particular) are rather disturbing and making me think that his own life and feelings often seeped into his work. Overall, I was forced to do this for English class against my will.

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Summary: The Focused Poetry of E.A. Robinson
Review: E.A. Robinson is definitly a unique poet, but he does not deserve to be ranked with the classic poets, such as Frost and Sandburg. His rhyming scheme is generic and lacks any orginality, such as in the poem "Richard Cory." However, his meter is the one aspect of his poetry that excells and it sets him apart from the rest of the field. A handful of Robinson's poems are shocking, yet a majority fail to inspire or address any social change. His messages are vague and aloof. Robinson is a mildly entertaining poet,but he will never be included in the catagory of a great American poet.

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Summary: What abbystar thinks of EA Robinson
Review: Having read EA Robinson's poetry I find it slightly disturbing yet beautiful. I am not a person to enjoy works like Robert Cory which is aabout a nice white collar worker who kills himself. Not all people are like that. His mocking sing-songy rhythm insults people who are genuinely stable through and through and can control themselves with out the use of firearms.... And althought the message bothers me the way he flows the language is beautiful. It is not a sad beautiful, but a recognizable and realistic beautiful, it is strangely fulfilling even if he smacks you in the face with the ending. All in all his work is unique and I liked it.

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Summary: Redemption
Review: I have not read the complete collection of E.A. Robinson's poetry, but I have however read his poem "Richard Cory." This was an extremely well written poem. Robinson masterfully uses meter and tempo to create the perfect feeling in the reader of this poem. If the rest of Robinson's poems are anything like this masterpiece, I highly recommend this wonderful collection.

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Summary: $emattay's Amazin' Review of Some Crazy Poems
Review: Ok, so you're sitting here trying to decide whether or not you want to buy this book. Well, this is the straight up review where you know what's happening. This Robinson guy really has some interesting poems, including the awesome "Mr. Flood's Party", the surprising and surprisingly deep "Richard Cory", along with the interesting contrast-filled depiction of "New England". Robinson is intellectually stimulating, but his work seems unorganized and somewhat confusing to the average Joe. His poems create a great amount of insight into other people, revealing their dark sides. Robinson, however, is somewhat twisted in his portrayal of these lost and messed up personas. If you're into this subject matter, this is the book of poems for you. Robinson's "The House on the Hill", "The Clerks" and "Aunt Imogen" are all entertaining, but they're not for me. Personally, there are better poems out there, so take a look at some other poets before you dive into E.A. Robinson.

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Summary: EAR is like strawberry jam and honey-covered dates...
Review: Robinson's poems, especially "Richard Cory" and "The Mill", are dark and intelligent. "Richard Cory" was a truly inspiring poem. After reading it I had the sudden urge to have the perfect life on the outside. Richard had everything I wanted in life, especially the money. the powerful juxtaposition of the words of bullet and calm were particularly moving. Robinson uses the ultimate irony as he writes of Cory's nobility, and then describes the death of regality when "[richard] Went home and put a bullet through his head." All in all, Robinson is a profoundly dark and probably a personally demented writer. That man needed some Prozac. I liked "The Mill." "The Mill" was a long way to get around the sentence "the woman hung herself."

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Summary: Appreciating the Underappreciated
Review: Robinson's poetry has not yet been embalmed by the Library of America, Robert Mezey laments in his excellent introduction, but this small volume preserves the best work of one of our best, if not always fully appreciated, writers. Robinson's poems are generally short, dark, elegantly crafted gems that frequently present the emotion of a dramatic situation without explaining the situation itself: The House on the Hill, Eros Turannos. He has also written a few mid-length narratives (Isaac and Archibald, Aunt Imogen) in a supple blank verse that foreshadows and equals the best of Frost. Along with the poems and introduction, Mezey offers first-rate notes and reprints an essay by Frost about Robinson that deserves the attention of any serious reader of poetry, with its well-argued distinction between grief (Robinson's proper subject) and grievances (the subject of propaganda).

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Summary: Robinson, Strange yet Interesting...
Review: Robinson's poetry is remarkably deceptive. for example, "Richard Cory" displays his unconventional nature with a sudden twist that appears out of nowhere. Don't let Robinson's obscurity deter you from purchasing this book; some of the best poets are not main-stream. Case in point: Walt Whitman is known throughout the universe, yet his poetry never struck a chord with me. Robinson, meanwhile, does exactly the opposite. his elegant style, mastery of the sonnet, and emotional messages are excellent. Poetry is an excellent expression of the soul, and noboby understands this better than E.A.

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Summary: Mr.Flood's Party For One
Review: Upon reading Robinson's poem Mr. Flood's Party, we found yet another pathetic character relying on unconventional mechanisims to ease the pain. Like Richard Corey, Mr. Eben Flood is hollow inside, an outsider to the world around him. In Robinson's poem, we find him atop a hill while drowning himself in the mixtures of alcohol. There's a sense of dark humor in Eben saying, "Drink to the bird." "He raised up to the light the jug that he had gone so far to fill," This displays the mere fact that the man is in solitude and desperately trying to humor himself in order to fill the void within his existance. We feel that this poem is well written because of the use of dialogue to heighten the interest. The symbolism of opening and shutting doors parallels with the life of Eben Flood and the friends and opportunities he has lost along the way. The techniques of the inconsistant rhyme scheme that Robinson uses craft the demeanor of a drunk.