Customer Reviews

Eating the Honey of Words: New and Selected Poems

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In my opinion, Bly will be remembered first and foremost as a poet, long after his Vietnam protests and even men's movement activities are forgotten. He has probably inspired more young poets than any other American poet in the second half of this century, or perhaps the entire century.This book is an oasis of bold and vivid, yet refreshingly open and readable, poetry in a desert of bland workshop poetry and oblique, obscure academic poetry. The mystical and spiritual dimensions of Bly's work will frighten some, as will his use of highly-charged, "leaping" imagery, but those readers who prize the open flow of psychic energy over irony and detachment will find this book a startling departure from much of what is published these days. If there is any flaw with this book, it is the absence of the short essays such as were included in his previous Selected Poems. Bly's commentary is almost as good as his poems, and such commentary would have been welcome here. There is such a range of material here, that interested readers might do well to also seek out the above-mentioned volume, as well as various critical overviews of Bly's work.If you aren't familiar with Bly's work, this is a good place to start; if you are, you will find the new poems and the revised versions of older poems well worth the price of purchase.In other words, I liked this book ...

Bly may be better known among many as founder and leader of the so-called men's movement, but he is first and foremost a great poet. This is an excellent retrospective of his work over the years - work that remains quite consistent in style and quality across the decades. I was especially moved by the poems that dealt with the death of his father, and the long poem about Vietnam. The latter was written at the height of that war, and really brought back the sense of intense anger and emotion that gripped the country in those days. This book is highly recommended both for lovers of poetry and those who aren't sure whether they are or not - something for everyone here.

Poet Robert Bly has once again graced us with his words, beautiful poems from his heart to ours. How can one read these and not be touched by his humanity, romance and wonder. A wonderful, wise book!

I like Bly,,,, in reality this may not be his best book, but he has no bad ones.

Being a follower of Robert Bly's work maybe I am a bit biased but this is a great collection of old and new poems. He has reached a pinnacle only to make you realize it's just his beginning.

For such a well known name and prolific poet, translator, writer, and all around tough guy, his poetry sure isn't very good. And it is much better performed than on the page. I could go on slamming him and his work, but I'd rather focus on the three poems in the collection that I actually liked.

"Driving to Town Late to Mail a Letter"
This first poem has no meat to it. But it is a nice image, and sort of gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside. It's actually short enough to quote it in full here:

It is a cold and snowy night. The main street is deserted.
The only things moving are swirls of snow.
As i lift the mailbox door, I feel its cold iron.
There is a privacy I love in this snowy night.
Driving around, I will waste more time.

see, warm and fuzzy.

"Waking on the Farm"
This poem is by far the best in the collection. It feels like Bly's attempt at being Frostian. You get a nice image of the farm, and once again Bly evokes a warm and fuzzy feeling. He also gives some great lines: 'how the stubble,/ A little proud with frost' and 'Breathing seemed frail and daring in the morning.' That's good poetry, and it is a shame that more of Bly's work isn't like that.

"The Resemblance Between Your Life and a Dog"
This poem, my least favorite of the three, but still one I like very much, does just what it says. Compares a person's life with the actions of a dog. It's both funny and a little sad.

I'm going to say that you could easily pass on this book. You can find the best of Bly somewhere on the internet and print it up rather than spending the money.