In Natural Light [Paperback]

Michael Anania (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

A new collection of luminous poetry revealing vivid imagery and a compelling use of language.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

The best thing about this latest from the Univ. of Illinois poet and novelist (The Red Menace, 1984) is its format: a square paperback like the old City Lights pocket poets series, this modest-looking volume also comes with a CD (not heard) of the author reading its contents. The small design suits Ananias pared down verse: hoping to catch the instant, the poet often records the days accumulation of objects. Though he writes a lot about music, especially the blues, his own phrasings rely mainly on assonance and consonance for their unblueslike sounds. In short, erratically punctuated lineshis tercets are indeed terseAnania resembles Robert Creeley. But his own verse often turns on the meanings of self: from an old photograph, he extrapolates the self /in a prospect of birds (Somewhat Gray and Graceful); in Missing Matter, he captures the selfs ceaseless /hunger; a drawing on papyrus prompts him to sing, O self, self . . . ; and in As Semblance, Though, he charts a multiplicity of selves. Despite all this abstract self-regard, Ananias no narcissist; hes primarily a poet of moments and images, though A Place Thats Known dwells at length on his mothers stay in a tuberculosis sanitarium. Fifty-two Definite Articles, as playful as the verse of Kenneth Koch (to whom its dedicated), neatly demonstrates Ananias strengths and weaknesses: while some of these little philosophical jests are smart, rhythmic bits of wisdom, others are simply slight in every way. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

"One admires the mind at work in these poems." -- New York Times

After A Drawing On Papyrus
And This Is Free
Apples
As Ever
As Semblance, Though
As Though
Bell Sounds
De Kooning
December Commonplace
Eclogue
Edvard Munch
Fifty-two Definite Articles
From The Petrarchan Folio (42r)
Incidental Music; For A. K. Ramanujan, 1929-1994
Missing Matter
October Evening
Oranges And Lemons
Out & About
Out Of Dazzlement; For Elizabeth Streb
A Place That's Known
Psyche And Eros
Sequence Composed On Gray Paper
Some Other Spring
Somewhat Gray And Graceful; For Reginald Shepherd
Songs Intended For Familiar Places
Study With Several Figures, Incompletely Recalled
Things Aint What They Used To Be
What Are Islands To Me Now
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder®

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Product Details

• Paperback: 102 pages
• Publisher: Asphodel Press (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559212705
• ISBN-13: 978-1559212700
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,944,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The accompanying CD is a stroke of brilliance, June 17, 1999

By 

Beth Kujawski - See all my reviews

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This review is from: In Natural Light (Paperback)

The only thing better than Michael Anania's poetry is listening to Michael Anania read his poetry. I had the privilege of studying poetry with Professor Anania at the University of Illinois at Chicago (The man gave me an A ... further proof that he's brilliant!) and reveled in his readings. (Did he become a poet because he has the perfect voice for reading poems?) This little tome, just bigger than the CD it houses, packs a substantial poetic wallop. His imagery and alliteration repeatedly leave me shaking my head in amazement. And a listening of the CD further reveals his charm: There are slight, unintentional pauses, and gaffes, left in, as though you're experiencing him at a live reading. It almost makes me want to go back to college. I said "almost."