ERODING WITNESS (National Poetry Series) - Softcover

Mackey, Nathaniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0252012305 ISBN 13: 9780252012303

Publisher: University of Illinois Press, 1986

Synopsis

Poems deal with prophecy, music, magic, initiation, mythology, dreams, dance, secrets, death, and time

About this title

From Library Journal

99p. ISBN 0-252-01230-5. ea vol: Univ. of Illinois Pr. (National Poetry Series). 1985. pap. $8.95. poetry The product of very different talents and sensibilities, each of these two volumes illustrates the necessity of myth and historical belief as bases for poetry. Knoepfle uses the history and prehistory of the Sangamon river valley as his subject matter; the poems are laconic, earthy, full of sharply observed details, and are rendered with a flair for common speech:``sing jordan's stormy bank/ come spring my jenny// pick flowers in canaan/ on a hill of bones.'' In his lean versification at times he resembles Ammons, in his dedication to place, James Wright; but his voice is his own. African myth, anthropological detail, and jazz mythology inform Mackey's poems. His voice is harsher, more discordant than Knoepfle's, and more given to a sharp disjuncture of rhythm and sense. He shows great skill in a piece of medium length like ``Ghede Poem,'' which contains a refrain and builds with the power of incantation; and he is also capable of lyrical eloquence in the shorter form of ``Memphite Recension'': ``we meet at our/ booth inside/ the Long Night Lounge whispering/ dreams and regrets, eroding/ witnesses/ yet.'' Knoepfle's is probably the more consistent and completely realized work, but both volumes are recommended. Frank J. Lepkowski, Oakland Univ. Lib., Rochester, Mich.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"In his short time, David measured up to his promise remarkable; this is a rich, deeply intellligent book, a triumph of art and feeling." -- Robert Pinsky

And When The Moon Struck
Black Snake Visitation
The Canals
Capricorn Rising
Dogon Eclipse
Dream Thief
Enuma Elish 2
Falso Brilhante
Ghede Poem
Ghost Of A Chance
Grisgris Dancer
John Coltrane Arrived With An Egyptian Lady
Kiche Manitou
Memphite Recension
New And Old Gospel
Ohnedaruth's Day Begun
Outer Egypt
Parlay Cheval Ou
Passing Thru
The Phantom Light Of All Our Day
Poem For Don Cherry
The Shower Of Secret Things
The Shower Of Secret Things: 3
The Sleeping Rocks
Solomon's Outer Wall
Song Of The Andoumboulou: 1
Song Of The Andoumboulou: 2
Song Of The Andoumboulou: 3
Song Of The Andoumboulou: 4
Song Of The Andoumboulou: 5
Song Of The Andoumboulou: 6
Song Of The Andoumboulou: 7
Tarot-teller
Waters
Winged Abyss
Poem For Sv
Ridiculous In Piccadilly
The Waves Broke On The Shore
-- Table of Poems from Poem FinderŪ

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Illinois Press
• Publication date: 1986
• ISBN 10: 0252012305
• ISBN 13: 9780252012303
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 99