Customer Reviews

Zero Meridian: Poems (New Criterion Series)

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I found Deborah Warren's book of poems to be a bit too academic for my taste. I prefer poetry that speaks to the everyman and Warren seemed to speak to the professional academic. I prefer poetry more along the lines of R.S Gwynn, David Mason, Kim Addonizio, etc. That being said, I did find a certain grace and strength in a few of her poems, specifically, "Anna, Emma", "Roof-Walker", and "Jealousy."

Poetry is a craft, not (only) an art. It is not about "expressing your feelings" or "being yourself"--at least not if you want the reader to undestand the poem.

It is about using the English language to make a point about the human condition, using the resources of the language--metaphor, simile, cadence, metric, etc., etc.--to turn your vague observation into a pointed and memorable one.

These poems do just that. Classical in form (most of them rhyme, many are sonnets), they make interesting, indeed sometimes very surprising, points about the human condition. For example, from "Nakedness":

"But you're not really naked if you know
somebody could be watching. Let him stare;
youve got your wits about you for defenses.
Nakedness is being unaware"

There are many such memorable and interesting examples in Ms. Warren's poems. Not all are immortal masterpieces, of course--perhaps NONE are, as masterpieces are not made to order. But they are all good, showing both technical skill and insight into the human condition.