Customer Reviews

Annus Mirabilis

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Annus Mirabilis, as a title for a book of poetry, can seem a bit opaque -- as they say in that world -- but open it up and you find poems that are as visible as the plant (perhaps the title plant) on the cover. Aside from an understandable fascination with the whys of science, mathematics and Isaac Newton -- fascinating because she makes it so -- Ball then gives us a poignant look at her beloved father waiting for a transplant. But my favorite poem (among many) is "Things a Depressed Person Cannot Do." She provides a convincing list of samples, and if you're like me you'll add onto it for days -- measuring the good days by the ones you can subtract. I'm still not sure why purchasing mayonnaise is on her no list for that slough of despond, but I sure can relate to "Tease/Protect/Console/Seduce."

This is a wonderful book: surprising, witty, poignant, and fascinating. I loved the specificity of the language and the beauty of each poem. I was also interested in how the poems connected to one another. I was utterly engrossed. Ball is a talent to watch.