| Title | : | Raised by Wolves: Fifty Poets on Fifty Poems, A Graywolf Anthology |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1644452669 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781644452660 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 136 |
| Publication | : | Published January 23, 2024 |
Included here are established and emerging poets, international poets and poets in translation, and many of the most significant poets of our time. There are extraordinary Tracy K. Smith on Linda Gregg; Vijay Seshadri on Tomas Tranströmer, translated by Robert Bly; Natalie Diaz on Mary Szybist; Diane Seuss on D. A. Powell; Elizabeth Alexander on Christopher Gilbert; Ilya Kaminsky on Vénus Khoury-Ghata, translated by Marilyn Hacker; Mai Der Vang on Larry Levis; Layli Long Soldier on Solmaz Sharif; Solmaz Sharif on Claudia Rankine. In these poets’ championing of others, fascinating threads Stephanie Burt writes on Monica Youn, who selects Harryette Mullen, who writes on Liu Xiaobo, translated by Jeffrey Yang, who chooses Fanny Howe, who writes on Carl Phillips, who selects Danez Smith, who chooses Donika Kelly, who writes on Natasha Trethewey.
With an introduction by Graywolf publisher Carmen Giménez,
Raised by Wolves: Fifty Poets on Fifty Poems, A Graywolf Anthology Reviews
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Fanboy poetics from the Poetry World as Graywolf Press gives us 50 Graywolf poets choosing their favorite poems from other Graywolf poets then telling us why. Is this a commercial for Graywolf, then? A design to help us seek out Graywolf titles from the past and purchase them for some likely poesie?
Cynically-speaking, maybe, though you cannot deny there's talent in the room when you visit a salon featuring the likes of Nick Flynn, Natalie Diaz, Elizabeth Alexander, Tracy K. Smith, Claudia Rankine, Tess Gallagher, Ilya Kaminsky, Diane Seuss, Monica Youn, and even a few classical gases like Rainer Maria Rilke, Tomas Tranströmer, and Jane Kenyon.
In addition to some cool poems (among some lukewarm ones), you get some pretty cool analyses (among some more mundane ones). In many cases, the poetic comments pointed out techniques and tricks of the writing trade I completely missed (as is my wont).
Worth a walkthrough? If you like poetry as I do, I'd say yes. And don't worry about any wolves. Just channel Romulus and Remus and you'll be OK. -
I received this anthology less than two weeks ago and it's already a bit beat up from going back through it multiple times. This book exceeded my high expectations. I knew it would be quality bc I respect Graywolf, but they truly captured the essence of poetry to share. We, the reader, get to be part of the "tangled root system" due in large part to the brevity of the essays that accompany each poem.
Giménez likens these essays to "ekphrastic poems, or odes, or elegies, or fan letters," capturing the intimate tone and revelations unfolded by the commentary. The essays are sometimes as beautiful as the poems themselves, and always a wonderful complement.
In sum, every poem and every essay was a straight up banger, and I love this anthology. -
So many good poems!
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The essayettes are hit-or-miss, but if there is a better collection of poems in one place please tell me.
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A diverse collection of poetry throughout time. The authors who commented on each poem had such reflection in their responses that you gain an even further admiration for these poems and authors. The translations being located right after the poem really help solidify the messages presented, the relevance of their works, and their influence on the author themselves.
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Many of these poems were a bit too poetic for my tastes, but I did quite like these lines:
"A copper-faced man once called me beautiful. Stupid, stupid man." (Eduardo C. Corral)
"One day these years will be known as the space between silence & enough. I still have trouble being alone in either, which is why the radio is always on." (Nick Flynn)
'What is created by humans is almost always alien." (Fanny Howe)
"What I heard & saw were a hundred sparrows gathering in one small tree, their throats full of some ridiculous joy or misery at being sparrows, winged, striped, & handicapped for life." (Larry Levis)
"Sleep, Bee, deep and easy. Hive, heave, give, grieve. Then rise when you're ready from your soul's hard floor to sweet work or some war." (Tracy K. Smith)
And this, from my favorite poem in the collection:
"The nurse went with him through the sliding door. Without having to speak of it we left the suitcase with his streetclothes in the car." (Jane Kenyon) -
In this anthology, Graywolf poets choose a poem from a fellow Graywolf poet, and side-by-side, they explain its brilliance.
I love the format and idea behind this book. I actually picked it up at a bookstore because I found the structure so compelling and immediately began dreaming up how I could incorporate it in the classroom. I enjoy poetry but often “don’t get it,” and as you can imagine in a collection of poems selected by professional poets, there were plenty of complex ones. If I had loved more of the poems, I think this would have been even better, but I did feel a strong appreciation for the craft by reading other poets’ admiration for their peers’ work. Definitely worth picking this anthology up if you’re info that sort is thing. -
I love this book. I know I will go back to it again and again. I discovered new poets to read and was reminded of others I haven't read in a while. It was interesting to see the perspectives of other poets and sometimes what the chosen poem meant to them. It's a great idea for a book and the number of poems is perfect.
