The Selected Poems of Yvor Winters
In his essays, American poet Yvor Winters (1900-1968) has described the poetic discipline as “the richest and most perfect technique of contemplation.” Perhaps better known and remembered as a critic than a poet, he nevertheless has left us a sizeable quantity of fine poetry; edited by Barth in a more or less chronological arrangement of Winters? life-long works. The Selected Poems of Yvor Winters provides the reader with in-depth background on the poet and his style, noting the influence of contemporary imagist experimental poetry, as well as that of Japanese and Native American poetry on Winters? art.
The use of poetic forms as a “means to discovery” interested Winters, as indicated by the last critical work he wrote. In his work, the reader is led to discover his or her own personal depths and is enticed to explore them. Readers will be impressed by occasions of intense, almost stark imagery, as in the following, taken from “Moonrise”:
…the dog / at / moments is / possessed and
screams.
The rising moon draws / up his blood and
hair.
and the sparse, crystalline moment, captured here deeper than photography ever could:
Vacant Lot
Tough hair like dead / grass over new and /
hooves quick and /
Impatient the he-goat / looks around him /
over frozen mud // but /
Finds no mate // hardeyed // and savage he /
turns back and nips /
The bitter grass.
Of his later works, “Time and the Garden,” “In Praise of California Wines” and “Summer” all have vivid imagery.
For those who seek scholarly analysis, the introduction by Helen Pinkerton Trimpi is worth their study. Lovers of poetry will take pleasure in the works presented in this well-designed volume.
Reviewed by
Kristine Morris
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
