Customer Reviews

17 Love Poems with No Despair

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This book is red like a ruby, sharp like a diamond. It is a jewel I want to share with someone someday--and it has actually made me believe I will meet the man to share it with.

It's so hard to talk about love in new ways, with new metaphors. Even old metaphors he plays with, almost insults, and--I feel--redeems. Buy it. And his first book, Landing in New Jersey with Soft Hands, which first turned me on to Ward.

I absolutely adore this book. Ward's vision is unlike any other poet's I've read. He incorporates--in this slim, humble volume--references to Elvis and Saturday morning cartoons. I hear the influence of Li Po in "Under the Elm" and the influence of Quentin Tarrantino in "This is Right in Front of You." In a world where poets too often compare their love to flowers and candy, Ward invokes the book by saying, "Our love is not rose petals/ or Valentine candy--/ It is dirt and sand/ and the coarse pebbles in a shallow brook." And he goes on to make these real, lasting items represent love more than those more ephemeral things.

Again, this book--and Ward's vision for what poetry can encompass--is unlike anything else out there. I heartily recommend this. I'm a fan for life.

I feel sorry for the gentleman from San Antonio who did not bother doing his homework to find out the genesis of the title of Mr. Ward's book. I found both of his tomes of poetry to be outstanding views on what it was like to grow up in a backwater town in Northwestern New Jersey. To experience the many relationships with his mother, father and girlfriend who has brought some much love and joy to his life. To understand what coming of age and finding oneself is really all about. I find Mr. Ward to be a very intelligent and gifted writer of poetry who works long hours and hard to find just the right words to express his feelings. The fact that he also works hard with children to give them support in their efforts to write poetry right down to the early third grades is a tribute to his genius, all on his own time. I think if anyone ever has a chance to attend one of his readings, you will experience the explosion of emotion that goes into his poetry. It is almost an Academy Award performance and I came away as a true convert to BJ Wardism. Thank you, Mr. Ward, for giving us the modern day equivalent of Robert Frost and his poetry. And, don't let anyone discourage you.

I ALWAYS HATED POETRY IN SCHOOL. NOW I HAVE RETURNED TO COLLEG 23 YEARS LATER AND PART OF MY COURSE STUDY WAS TO TAKE ENGLISH CLASSES. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THEY WERE YOUR BASIC ENGLISH BUT THEY WERE NOT. MY PRODESSOR WAS BJ WARD. HE PUT SO MUCH PASSION INTO EVERYTHING WE READ AND WROTE. I WENT TO ALL THE PEOTRY FESTVALS WE HAD AT THE COLLEGE AND BECAME SO INTERESTED IN IT. I HAVE ALL OF BJ'S BOOK SO FAR AND I CANNOT EVEN PICK ONE SINGLE POEM THAT IS MY FAVORITE. YOU CAN FEEL THROUGH HIS WORDS WHETHER IT IS ANQUISH OR JOY HE HAS FELT. HE HAS OPENED MY EYES TO THE WORLD OF POETRY. I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS NEW COLLECTION COMING OUT IN SEPTEMBER. KEEP UP THE WONDERFUL WORK BJ. YOU OWE IT TO ALL OF IS.

Flowing, refreshing. It made me smile and feel loved myself..... Isn't that what we all need?

Reading through this book, and Ward's other book, I am so glad his voice is published. No pretense, no hi-falutin' language poets use to make themselves feel smart. The book only takes about an hour to read, and it's well-worth it. I love "A Poem for Men to Steal and REad to their Girlfriends." Which I did.

She loved it too.

Where's the next book?

It's clear to me, after loving this book, then reading the other readers' coments, you either get it or you don't. I get it. I thank the author. I'm glad most get it. Ward is one of the last authors I know who can write strikingly about the frailest of human conditions--love--in naked terms, not worrying about pushing the envelope in form, just risking it all by laying it out. I was absolutely pulled through this book, finding it very moving, as did my boyfriend, who professed to hate all poetry. This changed his mind. As he said, "Cool."