Marilyn Hacker is an American poet whose work is characterized by its penetrating exploration of personal and social themes. Employing precise language and complex forms, she delves into the intricacies of human relationships, identity, and political realities. Her original poetry is celebrated for its intellectual depth and emotional resonance, while her translations introduce European verse to American readers.
The collaborative poem by celebrated poets Marilyn Hacker and Karthika Naèir explores the themes of friendship, stillness, and grief over the course of a year. Through their intertwined voices, they reflect on shared experiences and emotions, creating a poignant narrative that captures the complexities of connection and loss.
A bilingual collection of poetry, from elegies to poem memoirs, by a revered French master. For more than four decades Claire Malroux has blazed a unique path in contemporary French poetry. She is influenced by such French poets as Mallarmé and Yves Bonnefoy, but her work also bears the mark, and this is unusual in France, of Anglophone poets like Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, and Derek Walcott. A prominent translator of poetry from English into French, Malroux is one of those rare poets whose work is informed by a day-to-day intimacy with a second language in its greatest variations and subtleties. Her poems move between an intense but philosophical and abstract interiority and an acute engagement with the material world. This bilingual selection by the award-winning poet and translator Marilyn Hacker presents Malroux’s oeuvre, from her early lyric poems to an excerpt from A Long-Gone Sun—a poem-memoir of life in southern France before and during World War II—to new and uncollected poems, including an elegiac sequence written after the death of her life partner, the writer Pierre Silvain.
Collecting a quarter century's work by one of the most elegant and pertinent poets working in English today.
Stunning new work by this inimitable French master
A selection of poems that addresses the quotidian and the global, from one of our most essential poets.
Exploring the complex themes of identity both at home and in travel, this collection delves into artistic citizenship through essays on notable figures in literature and poetry. It highlights the works and contributions of legendary poet Adrienne Rich, alongside discussions of influential writers such as Phillis Wheatley, Tony Harrison, June Jordan, Joan Schenkar, Fady Joudah, and Wanda Coleman, offering a rich tapestry of voices and perspectives on the intersection of art and personal identity.
Exploring themes of loss, exile, and the longing for connection, this poetry collection intricately weaves literary influences into everyday language. The title reflects a blend of hope and despair, suggesting a universal language that grapples with the challenges of communication and understanding. Hacker's mastery of prosody enhances the emotional depth of her work, delivering poignant insights with wit. Influenced by literary figures like Guillaume Apollinaire and June Jordan, the collection serves as a response to the complexities of the modern world.
Marilyn Hacker's poetry captures the rawness of human experience while skillfully transforming form, creating a unique voice that resonates with intimacy and beauty. Her work is characterized by an intense emotional depth and authoritative expression, making each poem a powerful exploration of personal and universal themes. W. S. Merwin highlights the remarkable interplay between experience and form in her writing, showcasing her ability to evoke profound connections through her craft.
The narrative weaves through the writer's life across various decades and cities, particularly Paris and New York, emphasizing the importance of awareness in prompting action. By reflecting on personal experiences and historical contexts, it invites readers to recognize the connections between their surroundings and their choices. The interplay of time and place enriches the exploration of themes related to observation and engagement with the world.
The narrative weaves through different eras and locations, contrasting the vibrant cultures of Paris and New York from the 1940s to the 1990s. It emphasizes the importance of awareness in prompting action, capturing the essence of the writer's experiences and reflections. Through this journey, the book invites readers to appreciate the subtleties of life and the spaces that shape our actions and thoughts.