Marianne Boruch Books

Marianne Boruch's poetry collection showcases her deep exploration of modern existence, blending works from her previous collections with twenty-five new poems. Her writing reveals the often invisible layers of anxiety and intensity in contemporary life, emphasizing both the risks and rewards of such confrontations. Critics highlight her ability to capture profound insights, making this volume a significant contribution to contemporary poetry.

Is the world finite? Through place and time and the great expanse of Australia, Marianne Boruch ponders this, aided not just by wallabies and platypus, kangaroos and wombats, but by a cheeky Archangel who wanders in and out of her poems. The pertinent wisdom of an Indigenous Elder is here too, along with the continuing presence of Pliny the Elder, the Roman naturalist and historian who in 77 CE posed the question Boruch considers. Written following Boruch's Fulbright in Australia, and on the heels of the devastating fires that began after her departure, Bestiary Darkis filled with strange and sweet details, beauty, and impending doom--the drought, fires, and floods that have grown unspeakable in scale. These poems face the ancient, unsettling relationship of humans and the natural world--the looming effect we've wrought on wildlife--and what solace and repair our learning even a little might mean.

In this collection, Marianne Boruch explores the interplay of the mundane and the profound, scrutinizing familiar themes like history, memory, and existence with both humor and depth. Her poems present vivid imagery, such as a woman levitating while her daughter plays Mozart, and moments of divine contemplation before creation. Through varied tones and forms, Boruch captures the complexities of life, inviting readers to reflect on the strangeness of the world and the mysteries of their own experiences. Each poem is a meditation that reveals the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Marianne Boruch's poetry collection showcases her unique ability to illuminate the often unseen aspects of modern life. Drawing from her previous works, she adds twenty-five new poems that explore the complexities of anxiety and intensity in contemporary existence. The collection reflects her thoughtful approach to poetry, emphasizing both the risks and rewards of confronting deep emotional layers. Critics praise her work for its impressive range and authority, highlighting her skill in making the invisible visible through evocative language.

Marianne Boruch's generous and gathering mind wanders through her poems--taking in, then turning around, a curious world