Reviews

Leaping Poetry: An Idea with Poems and Translations by Robert Bly

lottpoet's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

mossfacts's review against another edition

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4.0

perfection. i need more association-based poetry in my life, and i know ill be revisiting these for a long time!

richardwells's review against another edition

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4.0

Robert Bly, before, after, but not during his Iron John phase has been one of my favorite poets. First contact was with The Tooth Mother Naked at Last, a great poem out of the Vietnam War period. A harrowing poem. His own writing has gotten simpler with time, and he should have much more recognition than he does. I see there's a film coming out - that will help a little. Equally adept as a translator, his work with Nobel Laureate Tomas Transtromer is sublime. A copy of Friends, You Drank Some Darkness should be on everyone's shelf.

Leaping Poetry is a study in writing metaphor. The current crop of American poets seem to have left metaphor behind - they should take a refresher. This would be an excellent place to start.

pturnbull's review

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5.0

Helpful for understanding the difference between the leap and the turn in a poem. The poems included are more difficult than Bly's wonderful essays, and I look forward to reading them many times.
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