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caliesha's review against another edition
5.0
When I closed my eyes I saw him
Lying at my feet.
I knew
God and I were through,
And after that, what is there?
This is a phenomenal collection. I love Orr's use of classical (Sappho and Anactoria!!) and modern poetry references. He presents himself not as an individual, but rather a mere part of a much larger narrative, in which lyric poetry does what philosophy cannot: present the irrational as divine. To be truthful I was floored by the majority of these, but my favourites were Dark Song, The Undertoad, Aftermath Inventory, The Last Love Poem I Will Ever Write, and Inscription. Honourable mention to Charlottsville Elegy, as its served as a nice reminder that not all modern poets are completely out of touch with reality. Out of the Odes to Lyric Poets, I was struck most by #15, inspired by Du Fu. Will definitely be reading more Gregory Orr!
Lying at my feet.
I knew
God and I were through,
And after that, what is there?
This is a phenomenal collection. I love Orr's use of classical (Sappho and Anactoria!!) and modern poetry references. He presents himself not as an individual, but rather a mere part of a much larger narrative, in which lyric poetry does what philosophy cannot: present the irrational as divine. To be truthful I was floored by the majority of these, but my favourites were Dark Song, The Undertoad, Aftermath Inventory, The Last Love Poem I Will Ever Write, and Inscription. Honourable mention to Charlottsville Elegy, as its served as a nice reminder that not all modern poets are completely out of touch with reality. Out of the Odes to Lyric Poets, I was struck most by #15, inspired by Du Fu. Will definitely be reading more Gregory Orr!
gerumoon's review against another edition
4.0
We ordinary people, in our daily lives, we experience enormous amounts of disorder and confusion. It’s inside us. It’s in our past. It’s in the unknowable future. And we just navigate our lives with this kind of interplay of disorder and order. And what poetry says to us is, Turn your confusion, turn your world into words. Take it outside yourself into language. Poetry says, I’m going to meet you halfway. You just bring me your chaos. I’ll bring you all sorts of ordering principles.
— From On Being with Krista Tippett, Gregory Orr on Shaping Grief With Language
— From On Being with Krista Tippett, Gregory Orr on Shaping Grief With Language
senid's review against another edition
4.0
I loved when the beloved made appearances. It's really wonderful reading a poet's works over the years. This collection didn't feel as cohesive as others I have read from this poet, and some of the rhymes just rubbed me the wrong way.
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