BOO KS
303
did not see fit to include more of his animal poems in the "Physiologus"
section at the beginning (the formidable piece called "Bull" should
be there). But I also regret that the book is not twice its length. Since
the appearance of his second volume of poetry less than three years
ago, Mr. Merwin has written a tremendous amount, and in gradually
abandoning the Romance models that seemed to lie behind much of
his earlier work, has emerged with an intense and thoughtful style, quite
new and quite his own.
It
is a style that is always as rewarding as its
subject, and when turned upon problems of habit and knowledge in
poems like "White Goat, White Ram," "The Mountain," "The Prodigal
Son," and "Learning a Dead Language," for example, the result is
always considerable and often superb.
It
seems to flourish best in these
long, terribly intelligent, reflective poems; of the shorter ones, the
"Saint Sebastian" is certainly the most startling and, I feel, the best:
So many times I have felt them come, Lord,
The arrows (a coward dies often), so man')! times,
And worse, oh worse o.ften than this. Neither breeze nor bird
Stirring the hazed peace through which the day climbs.
POETRY HANDBOOK
A Dictionary of Terms
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A comprehensive, authoritative
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Examples are taken from more
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this book will be invaluable to
the teacher, critic, and student
as well as to the practising poet.
At all bookstores, $3.50
~
FUNK & WAGNALLS
153 East 24th St., N. Y. 10, N.
YJ
THE
Atlantic
$5,000 NOVEL CONTEST
for
1957
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY PRESS
in association with
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY
Closing Date-June 30, 1957
There are no restrictions whatsoever
as to author or subject. The sole pur–
pose of this Contest, as in previous
years, is to secure a novel that is both
original and distinctive, and one of
the outstanding books of its year.
For circular zivinz complete details, add".,
ATLANTIC NOVEL CONTEST
for
1957
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