Mercury: Poems

by Phillis Levin

In this new collection, Phillis Levin offers thirty-three luminous poems that extend her reputation as a master of form and an alchemist of the vernacular. In her work, she pushes the boundaries of sound, syntax, and sense--and ultimately makes structures incarnating the complexity of consciousness and the transfiguring power of memor

Genres: Poetry

Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[C. Varn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philis Levin's poetry does have a mercurial quality: a liquidity that is dense and almost opaque at moments. Levin will present fragmented elements of poetry and then watch them re-congeal by the end of the poem. Levin does directly invoke the god periodically through the work, but some of the poets are not as sourced. Levin uses diction, image, and metaphor in creative ways as well as sometimes using strict formal rhetorical patterns. In a few places the formality can feel a bit guileless and fluidity can become limp. Yet, most of this collection is excellent and Levin's work needs to be more widely read.