New And Selected Poems (Little red book) [Paperback]

John Yamrus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 21, 2008 | Series: Little red book

A collection of poetry that spans thirty-eight years of writing by poet John Yamrus.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Yamrus has been writing poetry and prose since 1970. During that time he has had 17 books published. Several of his poems have been translated into foreign languages. He lives with his wife, Kathy, in Sinking Spring, PA

Product Details

• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: Lummox Press; 5th edition (October 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929878001
• ISBN-13: 978-1929878000
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 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: #2,591,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Veteran Poet Offers Collection of New and Previously-Published Work, May 13, 2009

By 

Sarah Moore "Sarah" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New And Selected Poems (Little red book) (Paperback)

I did not approach the latest collection by John Yamrus, entitled New and Selected Poems, with any pretense of providing a critical and academic perspective on his rhythmic flow or line structure. I certainly am no expert on poetry, but instead I am simply a lifelong admirer of anyone who can weave together language and create beautiful art. Besides, I always felt that deconstructing a poem and writing a five-page essay on its symbolism or a specific word choice removed some of the unfiltered emotion I could experience from a well-written poem. Despite already learning that works by Yamrus have been studied by both high school and college students, I was able to open his book without viewing it through the lens of academia. I knew that my approach towards the work of John Yamrus would simply be to open the pages of his book and share my personal reaction.

In his poetry, much to my delight, Yamrus himself challenges the notion of academic poetry. In fact, he shares an automatic suspicion of those poets who are embraced by the ivory tower community. The poem "the academic poet" describes such a writer as one who

has been included in
countless anthologies
he's received fellowships
and grants

however his poetry shows that

there is no soul
no guts
it's so much empty air.

This sentiment, repeated in several of the pieces in New and Selected Poems, resonated with me as I often felt frustrated by professors telling me which writers should be studied and honored and even how I should react to their words. I was thrilled to meet, at least through his words, a poet who displayed a true passion for the purity of the craft.

Most of Yamrus' work focuses on everyday observations made as he sits with his loyal dog, responds to letters and emails written by those who have read some of his previous work, or makes a trip to the neighborhood drug store. While the circumstances may seem ordinary, Yamrus' wry perspective and sharp use of language make each poem a piece to be read over and over again. With the risk of sounding trite or simply offering the expected praise, I will freely admit that I found a connection, or at least a personal understanding, with each selection. I appreciate Yamrus' matter-of-fact approach to each topic that he addresses and the self-awareness that he holds for his place in the world of poets.

The new collection by John Yamrus, New and Selected Poems, includes pieces that he has written over the past twenty-four years as well as sixteen new offerings. Whether is he railing against "poets" who are

saying nice things
only to get the same nice things
said about their own
mindless crap

(my personal favorite) or sharing his tiresome reaction to television news with lines such as

bored with it all,
i turn it off
and walk down the hall...
stumbling toward
eternity.
film at 11,

Yamrus employs humor, irritation, reverence, and resignation to engage the reader in the various subjects that demand his response. New and Selected Poems was my introduction to John Yamrus, and offered a greeting that guarantees I will reach back to discover what he has written in the past and wait with anticipation to see what he produces in the future.