In Lusions, the internationally acclaimed poet James Ragan casts his eye on modern and ancient history in poems that put an original spin on the progression of the world. These are lyrical and witty poems about change and cultural evolution from an intellectual and insightful mind. Ragan explores humankind's cultural and mythical identities - from Prehistory, in which he muses on the "Birth of God (from an Early Photograph)" and "The Pebble Culture," when our distant ancestors turned "violence into culture," to the New World, where he covers such topics as Tuzla, the inner city, and the construction of a city mall. Once he catches up to the Premillennium, Ragan's poems are overwhelmed by a return to nature, perhaps the only antidote to our electronic age. Through brilliant wordplay and striking images, Lusions invents a mysterious and imaginative discourse on the point where the past and the present meet and the impact they have on a fragmented culture.

Reviews

The poems in this volume traverse time. From prehistory and the "Birth of God (from an Early Photograph)" to the construction of a suburban mall, Ragan is searching for reason and sense, in the flow of events, the passage of days. "It was to be a simple creation. An exercise at most/ of mischief, to play at quarks like building blocks,/ replenished and diminished, and by its cycle/ a god might gain domain. We would call it nature." Once God creates human nature, the poems collect moments of life, from a gazelle's "Birthing a Daughter into the Holocene Epoch," to man's simple but never-ending wars against his lawn. The rewards are many here. "Let all buckets fill, all loss be light./ I saw two girls weaving rainbows in their eyes,/ and daughtering in me their dreams, I grew/ astonished by all conception,/ the frail grandeur of life." Recommended for serious poetry collections.?Louis McKee, Painted Bride Arts Ctr., Philadelphia
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Sheafe Street Books is a small bookstore located in historic downtown Portsmouth, NH selling new, used and collectable books. Named "Best Small Book Shop in New England" by Yankee Magazine. The staff has many years of bookselling experience and will assist you in finding specific titles as well as assess your book collection. We will consider selling your books on consignment.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Sheafe Street Books
NH, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Master Charge, Visa and AMEX accepted. We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the
Abebooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged)
or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date.

Shipping Terms

Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. International shipping is usually more than you think it is. I'll contact you with specific charges.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	5 to 14 business days	3 to 6 business days
First item	US$ 4.00	US$ 5.50

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.