Customer Reviews

Things and Flesh

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Gregg's poems show us that when we are least aware of it the universe is teaching us. That in the simplest activities of living (getting quilt-tops backed, walking across Brooklyn Bridge, preparing a meal) are truths, nearly hidden, which lead toward a flowering of the soul, a climbing up toward passion. "Things and Flesh" is Gregg's best work since "Too Bright to See."

Not all poets nor readers of poetry for that matter are interested in the 'examined life' but Linda Gregg is and has been since the publication of her first book of poetry. In her latest book 'Things and Flesh', she continues this examination. Her topics are life, death, love, betrayal, good and evil- all that matters. Hers is the voice of the lyrical poet who uses images from her daily life experiences to question the relationship between knowing and imagining-between experience and hope. Gregg is a great utilizer of Western myths to explore our being 'self conscious' and her myth poems have a coherency and immediacy which are illuminating. In this book she uses both Greek and Southeast Asia locations and mythologies to examine the predicaments of our lives. In our world filled with noise and over-stimulation it is a relief to reach for this book and listen to Gregg's voice of intelligent contemplation.

One of the most exciting book of poetry I've read in a long time. Gregg's poems are so simple and direct, so witty and intelligent, and have such freshness of perception and clarity of thought that I feel I'm in the presence of a true master. One or two of them feel like poems I'd love to have read when I die, so beautifully stated and all-encompasing are they. I have no idea where the first two reviewers are coming from, but this to me feels like truly great work, certainly some of Gregg's best. If you're looking for some of the best in contemporary poetry, look no further.

This is a profoundly mediocre book of the type which, unfortunately, seems to be very common today as poets feel the pressures to crank out puffed up collections of verse so that they can present an acceptable curriculum vitae to the myriad of academic programs in which they aspire to teach. That is my interpretation anyway. I can think of no other reason why Gregg would submit such self-centered drivel to the public.

Almost none of these poems feel fully realized. They suffer from a lack of wisdom, a lack of thought, and an utterly flat ear.

One of the saddest things is that in the few places where Gregg succeeds, she sounds exactly like Jack Gilbert. It is a fatal flaw which has made it difficult for many readers to take Gregg seriously. I have heard many people comment on this. I too found her first book promising. Its promise lay mainly in my belief that, sooner or later, Gregg would outgrow her tendency to channel Gilbert, and grow into her own. It just hasn't happened.

There are some poets who really should take a long break from manufacturing verse, and simply spend time at the humble task of READING poetry. Gregg belongs on that list. She has several favorite cliches which she uses over and over, and which she really needs to retire. Surely she can do better.

When Gregg's first book came out, she was a poet I found promising. In my opinion though, Gregg hasn't lived up to that promise at all. Her work at best fizzles and fails to reach its mark, and at worst insults the reader's intelligence with it vapid, self-centered pronouncements.

One thing I cannot get away from as I read these poems is simply how false they all sound. In poem after poem, the poet seems to desperately try to be something she is not. Imitation for the sake of learning is fine, but at some point one expects a poet to find and have the courage follow her own voice. This particular book has gotten a number of bad reviews, and one can see why.

It is really too bad because I think Gregg's early work showed some talent. Judging by this collection, it just never took root or gained substance. One wishes for and expects better.

This is a beautiful book by a great lyric poet. Much has been made by some reviewers of the similarity between Gregg's poetry and that of Jack Gilbert. While there are certainly stylistic similarities between these two poets (and Gregg herself openly acknowledges Gilbert as her "poetry mentor"), nevertheless Gregg and Gilbert do have distinct poetic voices, and Linda Gregg is definitely her own poet. Most of the poems have a musical gracefulness on the surface, coupled with a great spiritual/emotional depth and intensity. One reads these poems with a sense of being led to the edge of what is knowable about human nature, a sense of the profound mysteries of what the self is, what identity is. The poems have a quality of directness that is rare among contemporary poets. I admit that not everything in this book is good. There are a few poems that seem rather limp (e.g., "Gypsy Kings") but such poems are few and the overwhelming strength and beauty of the other poems more than makes up for them.

I've seen some reviews that are rather unfavorable. Granted, this isn't as good as her other works, but it is good. (Take a look at Chosen By The Lion and The Sacrements of Desire. These two are amazing). The thing about Gregg is that she's very aware of both sides of life -- the lovely and the no so lovely, and both these things appear in her poetry. She's very straightforward, which is refreshing. Her images are gorgeous and her language is beautiful. Anyone who can't see this maybe doesn't understand poetry at its core.

Take away the self-pity, bitterness, and narcissism, and there is not much left in this emotionally anorexic collection of poems. One has to wince at the author's lack of awareness of herself. Vapid platitudes on ever page-- what were her editors were thinking?

Human suffering exists on every level. Gregg's vision is subtle, complex, and multi-layered. Linda, please keep going; we are so proud of you, so grateful for your poetry, which inspires us to dig deeper into ourselves and find the real beauty of our lives. Please don't listen to the shallow criticism of those with other agendas, for yours is the right path, the true way. Thank you, you have carried us along through your works and we await more!

People I respect like this poet, but I find her work self-satisfied, uninteresting, flat and impoverished.