Hybrids of Plants and of Ghosts (Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets) [Paperback]

Jorie Graham (Author)

Book Description

Series: Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets | Publication Date: June 1, 1980

"How I would like to catch the world / at pure idea," writes Jorie Graham, for whom a bird may be an alphabet, and flight an arc. Whatever the occasion--and her work offers a rich profusion of them--the poems reach to where possession is not within us, where new names are needed and meaning enlarged. Hence, what she sees reminds her of what is missing, and what she knows suggests what she cannot. From any event, she arcs bravely into the farthest reaches of mind. Fast readers will have trouble, but so what. To the good reader afraid of complexity, I would offer the clear trust that must bond us to such signal poems as (simply to cite three appearing in a row) "Mother's Sewing Box," "For My Father Looking for My Uncle," and "The Chicory Comes Out Late August in Umbria." Finally, the poet's words again: ". . . you get / just what you want" and (just before that), "Just as / from time to time / we need to seize again / the whole language / in search of / better desires."--Marvin Bell

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press; 1St Edition edition (June 1, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691013357
• ISBN-13: 978-0691013350
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars visceral mastery?, January 21, 2002

By 

"hirofantv" (tomorrow) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hybrids of Plants and of Ghosts (Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets) (Paperback)

So when she first took up the craft of poetry, this is what she did. The poetics of the writing are not as difficult as her later work, but the thoughts are still huge concrete slabs of serious intelligence. It's still difficult, if not in precisely the same way as her later work, & it was clear from this book -- from the first few poems in this book -- that she had gigantic poetry inside her.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars her start, just her start, April 7, 2003

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I X Key "burningfield" (tomorrow) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hybrids of Plants and of Ghosts (Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets) (Paperback)

So this is her first book, from 1974. The way Jorie Graham feels now is that you'll have to pardon the youth of it. This book won't give you an idea of all the other amazing developments she's had in her career, for herself & for western poetry, but it is a showcase for her brilliant mind for metaphor & the sounds of poetry among other things. It'll show you how she started as a poet, so you can understand better her development as a poet. Besides that, it still gets 5 stars anyway for the brilliant, brilliant metaphor & thoughts throughout.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous debut.See where the great poet started!, July 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hybrids of Plants and of Ghosts (Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets) (Paperback)

This poetry is less compicated than Ms.Graham's newer poems.Though they still have that charm and profound ideas expressed in the most beautiful poetic language ever!Spring the few dollars for some poetic delight!