Customer Reviews

Migration: New and Selected Poems

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At last there is a significantly large volume of the majestic poetry of W.S. Merwin. Not that all of his other volumes of poems published through the years by Copper Canyon Press have been minor: the length of the books does not begin to mimic the towering power of his work.

But here in MIGRATION: NEW & SELECTED POEMS we have enough of his life's work to truly appreciated the fact that he is an exceptional thinker, artist, involved human being, as well as a gifted man of letters. Winning the National Book Award in 2005 this volume belongs in the collection of everyone concerned with great literature and great poetry. Spanning from the past forty odd years of writing, the collection presents some of his finest older works as well as introducing some of the mystical new works that edge him toward Poet Laureate of America. Example:
Lark

In the hour that has no friends
above it
you become yourself
voice
black
star burning in cold heaven
speaking well of it
as it falls from you
upward

Fire
by day
with no country
where and at what height
can it begin
I the shadow
singing I
the light

This book is rich in such wonders. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, November 06

Winner of the National Book Award in Poetry, Migration: New & Selected Poems collects poems from fifteen different volumes written by W.S. Merwin, one of the most influential modern American poets. Eight of the poems are new, created circa 2004; the rest of this vast compendium offers works that span half a century, to as early as 1952. Experimenting with a wide variety of verbal form and function, the individual compositions of Migration range from momentary mirth to placid insight to storytelling. A solid best-of-the-best addition to poetry shelves. "Glimpse of the Ice": I am sure now / A light under the skin coming nearer / Bringing snow / Then at nightfall a moth has thawed out and is / Dripping against the glass / I wonder if death will be silent after all / Or a cry frozen in another age

I read one poem by Merwin on [...] which reminded me how much I love his poetry. And that poem(title: Spring Lost?) moved me to get this beautiful book of poems. His poems nourish my spirit and soul. I don't know what I would do without poetry and W.S. Merwin is a master of his craft and the rich substance within.
Rachelle Benveniste

Though the title impied there were new poems in this volume, I found some of my favorites, but
didn't notice any new ones. Never mind, they are wonderful, and I liked this book so much, I purchased
a copy for a friend and published poet, who's poet in the schools, Grace Grafton, who is familiar with
Merwin's writing. That made both of us happy.
On a practical level, it is easier to schlep a single volume with you than three of four,when what you
want is 'La crême de la crême.'
Makes a welcome addition to any collection, a great gift to introduce Merwin, and a pleasure to read
the smooth, ariculate poetry that is food for the soul.
Antoinette Constable

This is an excellent book of poetry by the Pulitzer Prize and 2006 National Book Review award winning American poet.
The book itself was in very fine condition and all that I hoped for in content and condition.