In The Swimmer, Susan Ludvigson writes of the enveloping sensuality of swimming--gliding beneath the waves, basking in shimmering light on the surface, drifting in the pleasure of the water. In these poems, swimming can be the perfect escape from life, a sublime refuge from the cares and agonies that lie on the shore or wait at the edge of the pool. Ludvigson begins with poems that speak of the griefs that punctuate life. She writes of the fearsome mysteries of passion, the agonies that can be reawakened by memory, the ...
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In The Swimmer, Susan Ludvigson writes of the enveloping sensuality of swimming--gliding beneath the waves, basking in shimmering light on the surface, drifting in the pleasure of the water. In these poems, swimming can be the perfect escape from life, a sublime refuge from the cares and agonies that lie on the shore or wait at the edge of the pool. Ludvigson begins with poems that speak of the griefs that punctuate life. She writes of the fearsome mysteries of passion, the agonies that can be reawakened by memory, the sabotage of dreams, the sadness of living in a world painfully contracted by the deaths of loved ones. It's not the world I care about now, but a few lives. Yours. Mine. The friends who go on dying. After Don, after, Anne, I can hardly believe how it continues. She then turns to poems that seek escape from grief, in the dark humor of obscure news items--"Man Arrested in Hacking Death Tells Police He mistook Mother-in-Law for Raccoon"--and in the absorbing depths of art. But these are escapes of the mind, momentary transformations of identity that cannot finally bring calm to the spirit. In the final section of the book, Ludvigson returns to the lure of the water: Under that starry sky, you'll float in the shadows of shadows. three might be no end to it, just water darkening into night, then slowly restoring itself. to blue. The silence will be a new entrance to dreams, sleep a new way to breathe. Sensual and moving these are poems of renewal and of loss, poems that seek the moments of calm amid the jagged hours of daily life.
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Publisher:
Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press (1984). 1st ed.
Published:
1984
Language:
English
Alibris ID:
14302930395
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Seller's Description:
As New. Dust Jacket Included. Signed by Author(s) 8vo. 53 pp. Publisher's original binding. Publisher's Advance Review Copy with material(s) laid in. Warmly INSCRIBED to author and reviewer Bill Starr on the half-title page. This is a tight, fine book in a bright, fine DJ.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in Very Good jacket. First edition. Fine in very good dustwrapper. Pages clean and bright. Nice clean and solid cover. Minor shelf rubbing to dustwrapper. Please Note: This book has been transferred to Between the Covers from another database and might not be described to our usual standards. Please inquire for more detailed condition information.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good dust jacket. 0807111554. The dust jacket is protected by a Brodart mylar cover and is not clipped. Not an ex-library copy. No remainder marks. No names or marks in the text. Most books shipped within 24 hours. All books mailed with Delivery Confirmation. Scattered foxing on the top edge. The dust jacket has minor rubbing at the extremities. Very good conditon in very good dust jacket.; 8vo.; 53 pages.
