Ants on the Melon : A Collection of Poems (Modern Library (Paperback))

Rating:
Summary: Good earthy, practical poetry
Review: I'm a literary dilletante and I admit it. I picked up this book because of its swell cover and title.

Upon skimming it in the bookstore, I was hooked. Poems about life, without sappy metaphor or tricky construction. Good earthy, practical poetry. Such breadth of matter, such depth of understanding. I felt that I'd met a poet of substance.

Let's leave it at this, Adair nudged me into reading more poetry, more often.

Rating:
Summary: If Emily had a daughter....
Review: It's always unfair to compare one writer to another, but if you love Emily Dickinson, then Adair's book is for you.Succinct, masterful use of the language. I loved this collection. Buy it!

Rating:
Summary: Glad to have discovered her!
Review: Virginia Hamilton Adair was raised in an environment which seemed truly perfect for a (budding) poet. She was born as the daughter of Robert Browning Hamilton (a poet himself). Her parents suffused her with poetry and gave her loving encouragement. Though for certain reasons she began only to publish them as a book collection in her eighties.

And I for one am very glad to have discovered her! Mrs. Adair doesn't mince words and speaks in a direct, assured and clear voice, so no mannerisms here. She takes a refreshing and intelligent look at things. I do love her fine and wicked humour.

These poems cover a wide range of subjects. The experience of a long life is distilled here. Heartwrenching are many of the poems in the Exit Amor section, because in 1968 her husband committed suicide. Her grief and despair found it's voice in her poetry (One Ordinary Evening, Dark Lines, The Ruin, Exit Amor, The Year After or Coronach).

So try out Ants on the Melon and you'll discover a wonderful poet!