Book Club: Poetry
Submitted by Ann Behan on July 30, 2006 - 3:29pm.
Book Club: Poetry
"Delights and Shadows," by Ted Kooser, copyright 2004. Ted Kooser was Poet Laureate of the United States from 2004 to 2006. In 2005 "Delights and Shadows" was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Noted for his clarity and accessible style, Kooser writes mainly about the Midwest, where he's spent his life. Is your soul weary from dwelling on inconvenient truths, economic hit-men and the shabby democracy our dollars are buying us? Give yourself a gift with this slim (84 pages) volume. It's relaxing, peaceful and frequently touching; guaranteed to transport you elsewhere.
Thank you Ann. His poetry repair looks interesting too. I especially like "Flying At Night." While the syllable count is all of, there is something in the way he turns his images that remind me of Haiku.
Poking around the site, I also discovered a bit of prose. The sentences have a similar cadence as his poetry, but it is definately prose. Part of the story was about cookie tins left in the basement, and how they always move on.
This was a refreshing treat.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
Please continue. I appreciate the quiet thoughtfulness encouraged by poetry.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall.
Three of the poems in my collection appeared in the Iowa Review, Spring 2005
On The Way To Khe Sanh is available on various booksellers' websites.
Thanks for the introduction Ann.
Ted Kooser sampler here:
http://www.tedkooser.com/excerpts.html#
(Delights and Shadows added to cart - I have got to be out of my mind - the nice thing about poetry tho, you don't have to commit to an entire volume, you can simply indulge on a whim)