17 Love Poems with No Despair [Paperback]

BJ Ward (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 1997

17 Love Poems with No Despair resounds with the voice of a clear, powerful speaker. Ward does not naively deny despair but rather refuses it, making a case to the beloved and to the reader that proffers love as an antidote. This book is an offering of passion wrought with charm and poignancy. Always one is aware of the strength that is required to love long and well.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

BJ Ward lives in Washington, New Jersey. His first book, Landing in New Jersey with Soft Hands was published by North Atlantic Books in 1994. He is the recipient of a poetry fellowship from the New Jersey State Council for the Arts/Department of State.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books; 1st ed edition (April 10, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556432437
• ISBN-13: 978-1556432439
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.3 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,402,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So glad to have found this book, May 24, 2000

By 

"amhered39" - See all my reviews

This review is from: 17 Love Poems with No Despair (Paperback)

I've always disliked poetry. I never liked it in school, and the few times I've tried it since I graduated I just didn't get it. Then I discovered Deborah Garrison's work--and now BJ Ward. While I still love Garrison the best--and always will--I am so grateful for Ward's common voice saying uncommonly beautiful things.

I must admit I liked his other book, Landing in New Jersey on Soft Hands better, but this is a fine, short (37 pages) read. Great with dry white wine.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Quite Successful Book from an Under-Recognized Poet, October 10, 2001

By 

Sean T. Dougherty - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 17 Love Poems with No Despair (Paperback)

I bought this book by Ward years ago at a reading he gave in Syracuse. I was surfing around to see if he had anything new in and saw so many negative reviews. I was startled. This is quite a beautiful book full of tender and sorrowful lyricism. The title, riffing Neruda, is ironic, as underneath the surface texture of these poems is a fear of loss as much as renewal.

In the chaos of my library I have my top book shelf of about 30 books of contemporary poets that I find jumpstart me when I have trouble writing. This book is on there. Ward is part of my generation of poets (born at 1965 or after), but he has somehow fallen through the seams. He should be present in the canon forming anthologies but isn't. This is a shame.

I highly recommend Ward, his work, and if you get the chance-- to hear him read. The honest and seemingly simple texture and metaphor of his poems offers us much to help us live our lives.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a guy and I love this book!, January 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 17 Love Poems with No Despair (Paperback)

My friend sent me a copy of this book--yes, she's a girl--and said all this garbage about how Ward is a sensitive guy and all that 90's bull. Well, I didn't think I'd like it, but I read it anyway because I like my friend and I knew she was going to ask about it. Guess what--I loved it! Yes, he's sensitive but he's also got an edge I only usually feel in rock-n-roll. With every flower he offers he also offers its shadow. After reading 17 Love Poems I looked it up here to see what kind of reviews he got. I'm glad to see the book is so well received but it's basically just a bunch of women saying "Oooooh, he's so wonderful." Well, I'm a guy and I also think he's great--not because I find him sexy or anything like that (I'm happily engaged to a woman), but because he's a guy's guy! He says "our love is not rose petals or valentine's candy--it is dirt and sand and the coarse pebbles in a shallow brook." I love it! LOVE POETRY WITH NO CLICHES! I can read these proudly to my fiancee and not feel like a wimp. He even has one called "A Poem for Men to Steal and Read to their Girlfriends." If I ever meet him, I must shake his hand for how happy that poem made my fiancee and, in effect, me that night! I also love "Wonder Twin Powers Activate." Ward must be about my age--33--because that refers to a childhood cartoon. It's a testament to the poet's ability that he can make a cartoon sexy! Bravo--I am getting his other book now.