Iris: A book-length poem [Paperback]

Mark Jarman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Few long poems combine the narrative and poetic modes as successfully as this complex, powerfully moving tale, which profiles an impoverished and abused young woman from Kentucky whose only redemption is the "life she imagined from a book of poems"--namely, the work of Robinson Jeffers. His imagery echoes in Jarman's text and transforms Iris's dreary homes (in Western Kentucky, then Los Angeles) into a transcendent world: slicked-down hair shines "like a wallet"; the road becomes a "mottled snakeskin." The poem concludes with Iris reaching the end of her quest at Jeffers's magical seaside house and tower. A rich, seductive reading experience; the pages fairly turn themselves. Strongly recommended.
- Daniel L. Guillory, Millikin Univ., Decatur, Ill.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Iris: 1
Iris: 2
Iris: 3
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder®

Product Details

• Paperback: 134 pages
• Publisher: Story Line Press (May 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934257884
• ISBN-13: 978-0934257886
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #828,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars valuable addition to narrative verse, July 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Iris: A book-length poem (Hardcover)

Though not a fan of New Formalism or any of its subsequent branches, including the New Narrative, I have found Jarman's book-length poem Iris to be captivating and impressive. The book is ultimately a tribute to Robinson Jeffers, but Jarman succeeds in establishing his own narrative style that incorporates deft lyricism and acute observation.

5.0 out of 5 stars what a narrative should be, July 7, 2005

By 

[e-mail] "[e-mail]" (Beaumont, tx USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Iris: A book-length poem (Paperback)

In his Reaper Essays Jarman espouses the positive characteristics of the narrative poem, and then in his book-length narrative poem, _Iris_, he puts in practice what he puts forth in theory. He uses long lines--ten feet of iambic pentameter. The story is of a young mother, Iris, and her search for family and for the meaning in the poetry of Robinson Jeffers. Section one is as good as you are going to find in narrative poetry. I will admit that section two is rather weak. But he rises again in section three, wich is rather good, it doesn't rise up to what you find in section one, but then what could, but still, it is quite good. I highly recommend this book as an example of what narrative poetry should be.