Conversations on a Raft is a highly accomplished collection of poems. Magidsohn is in full control of his poetic technique, crafting works sparkling wConversations on a Raft is a highly accomplished collection of poems. Magidsohn is in full control of his poetic technique, crafting works sparkling with wordplay, brilliant use of language, philosophical musings, musical and cultural allusions, and full of beauty and meaning. He opens with 'Toast' a warm welcome to readers, and ends with the 'St Ignatius Was Half Right,' a poignant closer. In between he maintains an admirable consistency. Several of my favourites are 'When We Meet,' 'Eulogy for Dulwich Hospital,' 'Tuesday - 2:40pm, 1982,' the title poem, and In the Moment - Part 2: Epicurus Rides His Bike Over Tower Bridge. I highly recommend the book....more
I'm proud to say I haven't outgrown my Jim Morrison and the Doors phase. Thirty years ago I became a fan of Jim's lyrics and the Door's eclectic mix oI'm proud to say I haven't outgrown my Jim Morrison and the Doors phase. Thirty years ago I became a fan of Jim's lyrics and the Door's eclectic mix of the blues, jazz, rock, and carnival music, and having recently revisited their albums and Jim's lyrics and poetry, I'm still a big fan.
The American Night is much better than I expected it would be. Given it's the last collection of Jim's work and was published many years after his death, I thought it might be a 'scraping of the barrel' effort. But it's not--this is a solid collection of interesting, original, and entertaining poetry.
I've alluded to this before, but it's hard to judge the outside writing efforts of one's favourite songwriters; part of the fun is bound to be noticing references to their lives or experiences or albums, as well as a general high level of rock 'n' roll excitement (plenty of sex and drugs and rebellion). Often you can be reading along enthralled, but a part of you wonders if what you are reading is actually any good. I think Jim's poetry is the real thing and it's too bad he didn't live further to develop his voice and substance.
This collection is put together nicely--it clearly wasn't just a quick cash-in to profit from Jim's fame and celebrity. The contents include 'An American Prayer,' the two performance pieces that became songs, 'A Celebration of the Lizard' and 'The Soft Parade,' Jim's poems from The Village Reading, various sets of the poems from his journals, several of his lyrics, and the last poems he wrote as his 'Paris Journal.' It's quite a diverse offering and there is an illuminating description of where each section's poems came from.
I think it's true that Jim's lyrics are stronger than his poem's overall, perhaps because he chose the best poems to turn into lyrics and then fine-tuned them down into tighter and somewhat more coherent works. But his poems are fascinating to me and I recommend this book if you are a fan of Jim Morrison's lyrics and the Doors. ...more
This is a wonderful edition of Rimbaud's Complete Works in translation.
Paul Schmidt, the translator, divides the poems into eight seasons according toThis is a wonderful edition of Rimbaud's Complete Works in translation.
Paul Schmidt, the translator, divides the poems into eight seasons according to the estimated chronology. There is a fine introduction to Rimbaud's work, and there are further introductory notes at the beginning of each season section, providing context to the poems. Rimbaud's letters are placed both throughout the text, and there's a large collection at the end in the eight season. This makes the book read somewhat like a memoir as the reader progresses through the various comments, poems, and letters.
Among the highlights for me were the sixth season, which includes the A Season in Hell poems, the seventh season, which contains the breathtaking poems Lines, Lives, and Cities I and II, and the last season in which his letters reveal the pain of Rimbaud's last years and unfold in tragedy.
The only concern I had was in trying to identify which poems belonged to which books that have been published in the past: it's not easy for a novice like me to know which poems would have been included in Rimbaud's various works (i.e. Poesies, Illuminations, A Season in Hell). Perhaps a better cross-referencing would have helped.
It was reading Bob Dylan's Complete Lyrics recently that brought me to Rimbaud's poems, and it was reading Rimbaud's Complete Works that brought me to re-listen to all of my Door's albums and to reread Jim Morrison's biography, No One Here Gets Out Alive....more
Last December I read Bob Dylan's Lyrics: 1962-2001. While researching his work, I was reminded that Bob had been influenced by the French Symbolist anLast December I read Bob Dylan's Lyrics: 1962-2001. While researching his work, I was reminded that Bob had been influenced by the French Symbolist and Surrealist poets. The Anchor Anthology of French Poetry was a recommended book on Dylan's website. So I asked for the book for Christmas and when it arrived learned via the introduction that this book had profoundly inspired Patti Smith-she found a copy in her younger days, 'borrowed it,' and the book became her 'Bible.'
I can see why! I have not been so inspired by a book of poetry or school of poetry since first discovering the Romantics, Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson, and the Beats. The editor, Angel Flores, chooses well--these poems are transcendent. Several of my favourites are: Golden Verses by Nerval, The Cracked Bell and The Voyage by Baudelaire, The Art of Poetry by Verlaine, The Drunken Boat and The Alchemy of Words by Rimbaud, The Azure and A Throw of the Dice Will Never Abolish Chance by Mallarme, Winter Sunset and Twilight by Larforgue, I Had the Courage, Vendemiaire, and Hills by Apollinaire, and The Cemetery by the Sea by Valery.
If you enjoy poetry, I highly recommend this collection....more
As a big Leonard Cohen fan, I loved this collection of poems, lyrics, notes, and drawings. When you love an artist and their work this much, it can beAs a big Leonard Cohen fan, I loved this collection of poems, lyrics, notes, and drawings. When you love an artist and their work this much, it can be hard to be objective-you end up treasuring every little glimpse into the author's life and work, especially after they have passed.
The Flame is a generous collection filled with many poems, the lyrics to his last four albums, and extensive notes from his journals including many revealing passages from throughout his long career. His poem about Kanye West, 'Kanye West is Not Picasso,' was very entertaining. Like one writer at Slate.com, I think the poem is a tribute, not a diss; it is Leonard having fun with the nature of egos in rap and poetry, both his own and Kanye's.
It was wonderful to hear Leonard's voice again, and a pleasure to revisit the lyrics to his later period masterpieces: 'Old Ideas,' 'Popular Problems,' and 'You Want it Darker.' This book was a lot of fun....more
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