Synopses & Reviews
"This is poetry worth loving, hating, and fighting over."--The New York Times Book Review
Here is the definitive collection of poetry from one of America's best-loved writers--now available in paperback. With the publication of this book, eight volumes of poetry were brought back into print, including the early nature-based lyrics of Plain Song, the explosive Outlyer and Ghazals, and the startling "correspondence" with a dead Russian poet in Letters to Yesenin. Also included is an introduction by Harrison, several previously uncollected poems, and "Geo-Bestiary," a 34-part paean to earthly passions. The Shape of the Journey confirms Jim Harrison's place among the most brilliant and essential poets writing today.
"Behind the words one always feels the presence of a passionate, exuberant man who is at the same time possessed of a quick, subtle intelligence and a deeply questioning attitude toward life. Harrison writes so winningly that one is simply content to be in the presence of a writer this vital, this large-spirited."--The New York Times Book Review
"(An) untrammelled renegade genius... here's a poet talking to you instead of around himself, while doing absolutely brilliant and outrageous things with language."--Publishers Weekly
"Readers can wander the woods of this collection for a lifetime and still be amazed at what they find."--Booklist (starred review.)
When the cloth edition of this book was first published, it immediately became one of Copper Canyon Press's all-time bestsellers. It was featured on Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac, became a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was selected as one of the "Top-Ten Books of 1998" by Booklist.
Jim Harrison is the author of dozens of books, including Legends of the Fall and In Search of Small Gods. He has also written numerous screenplays and served as the food columnist for Esquire magazine. He lives in Montana and Arizona.
Dead Deer
Amid pale green milkweed, wild clover,
a rotted deer
curled, shaglike,
after a winter so cold
the trees split open.
I think she couldn't keep up with
the others (they had no place
to go) and her food,
frozen grass and twigs,<>
Synopsis
Here is the definitive collection of poetry from one of America's best-loved writers -- now available in paperback. With the publication of this book, eight volumes of poetry were brought back into print, including the early nature-based lyrics of Plain Song, the explosive Outlyer and Ghazals, and the startling "correspondence" with a dead Russian poet in Letters to Yesenin. Also included is an introduction by Harrison, several previously uncollected poems, and "Geo-Bestiary, " a 34-part paean to earthly passions. The Shape of the Journey confirms Jim Harrison's place among the most brilliant and essential poets writing today.
Synopsis
Poetry. Harrison doesn't write like anyone else, relying entirely on the toughness of his vision and intensity of feeling to form the poem - or, we should say, relying on the untrammeled renegade genius, that has made him one of the most underappreciated writers in America ....here's a poet talking to you instead of around himself, while doing absolutely brilliant and outrageous things with language. -Publisher's Weekly. The alfalfa was sweet and damp in fields where shepherds / lay once and rams strutted and Indians left signs of war. (from Ghazals). Jim Harrison is one of the most authentic vocies of his time. - Denise Levertov.
Synopsis
An authoritative, best-selling edition of poetry by acclaimed novelist--now available in paper.
About the Author
Jim Harrison is the author of thirty books, including Legends of the Fall, Dalva, and Shape of the Journey. His work has been translated into two dozen languages and produced as four feature-length films. In 2007, Mr. Harrison was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He divides his time between Montana and southern Arizona.