Simple Eyes & Other Poems

by Michael McClure

The running theme in Michael McClure's Simple Eyes & Other Poems looking at the world directly. The results are often as disquieting as they are illuminating. In the long title poem, the stanzas on the Persian Gulf War bloom out of images of all wars the poet has known -- the spiritual wars, the napalm and cordite and nuclear wars, and the war against nature -- and become a kind of spiritual autobiography. At the heart of the poetry is McClure's return to the ancient concept of agnosia, the idea of knowing through unknowing, as a way of living in desparate times in which deep human or humane feelings have become almost outlaw.

134 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

About the author

Michael McClure (born October 20, 1932 in Marysville, Kansas) is an American poet, playwright, songwriter, and novelist. After moving to San Francisco as a young man, he found fame as one of the five poets (including Allen Ginsberg) who read at the famous San Francisco Six Gallery reading in 1955 rendered in barely fictionalized terms in Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums. He soon became a key member of the Beat Generation and is immortalized as "Pat McLear" in Kerouac's Big Sur.

Reviews

[Mat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Perhaps McClure's best book.

In the mid-50s Michael McClure started to write poetry. Almost 40 years later we now see a poet who has become a true master of his art. The rhythms and cadences, the right choice of words make these poems a true joy to read. They roll off the tongue (when read aloud) and roll off the page (when read silently) like a smooth glass of cognac which contains a heady distillation of wisdom about nature based on the poet's observations throughout his life and based on his extensive reading and study.

This is one of Michael's books which is definitely worth returning to. Rebel Lions receives much acclaim, some of it indeed warranted I would say, but in my opinion this book is far superior. If you have an open mind about poetry and its forms, you will not be disappointed with this volume, written by a true beat legend.

[chacierrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

So very good at times. His way of passing feeling through the pages is always so good.

Simple eyes (fields) is my favorite section. The sadness, anxiety, childhood, war, looming consciousness of past, present, future—and that war is part of all things—and that childhood is part of all things, yet we still are stars and childhood is not a sepulcher for us to lie in forever.

Moments Muse section is also very good, most especially the poem COWBOY. A very raw and angry poem in the finest way, so much so it forces you to confront it.

Later on:

“I am a sexual act inside a cave lit by spotlight
in my imagination with a girl.”