Circus Poems

by Robert Lax

Alternative cover & title for isbn 1585670413 can be found here

Jack Kerouac called Robert Lax "one of the great original voices of our times...a Pilgrim in search of beautiful innocence, writing lovingly, finding it, simply, in his own way". Though many hold him to be one of the greatest American poets of this century, Lax has maintained a low profile, living and writing in seclusion on the Greek island of Patmos. In Circus Poems, Lax's three great long poems on the circus -- "Circus of the Sun". "Mogador's Book", and "Sunset City" -- are collected together for the first time, placing this early masterwork in the position within American literature that it so richly deserves.Each of the three poems in this collection expresses a reverence for the acts of daring, beauty, and grace that make the circus the singular event it is. What also emerges is the drawing of a link between this world of the circus -- wherein a tent is erected, acts are performed, and then the tent is disassembled only to be re-erected the next day -- and Lax's faith. As Denise Levercov has said, "the radiant security of Lax's faith appears in his work as a serenity of tone".

Genres: Poetry

228 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2001

About the author

Robert Lax (30 November, 1915 in Olean, New York – 26 September, 2000 in Olean) was an American poet, known in particular for his association with Trappist monk and writer Thomas Merton. Another friend of his youth was the painter Ad Reinhardt. After a long period of drifting from job to job about the world, Lax settled on the island of Patmos during the latter part of his life. Considered by some to be a self-exiled hermit, he nonetheless welcomed visitors to his home, but did nothing to court publicity or expand his literary career or reputation.

Reviews

[Aaron]

Robert Lax was really out there living my dream of running away and joining a circus for a while before settling on the island of Patmos. Go off Bob.

[Tristan]

This was very good. the religious undertones were, at times, a bit much (The circus is all creation, and the church, and the performers are healing priests) but these themes are brilliantly realized. The first two sections, "Circus of the Sun" and "Mogador's Book," are more enjoyable than "Voyage to Pescara" but all three are fun. I love the tender affection that Robert shows for his friend, Mogador, in those first two sections. It was (as far as I know) just friendship, and it was pure and deep and powerful: a wonderful, sweet love of a person for another person. The writing was elegant and sparse: a section from "Voyage to Pescara": "Then I walked toward the shore and looked out at the sea where the sun, slowly rising, laid down a white path of light." (and this was one of the prose poems). The poems with line breaks are even better.

[Jason]

Lax is quite simply a stylistic innovator, along with his university pals Thomas Merton and Ad Reinhardt, each of whom took their expression of their philosophical ideas of simplicity and crafted them into poetry, theology, and painting, respectively. This volume is a collection of Lax's early 60's poetry, the last decipherable poetry he published before a series of abstract expressionist poems, examples of which follow:

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Yeah, those really are two of his published abstract expressionist poems. Circus Days & Nights is not as far out, and contains brilliant images of creation as a circus. Would recommend as a companion to Merton's writings, as the poetry gives one an example of the execution of the Merton/Lax/Reinhardt philosophy of simplicity in life and in art.

[Gasmask Dandy]

Strong in most places but feels like it was padded to its 200+ page length. Probably should have been a shorter chapbook.

[Sacha]

Circus of the Sun was fabulous. The other two parts of this collection, Mogador's Book and Voyage to Pescara, less so.

[Luke Levi]

A poem about Lax's love for the circus, not just the acts but the performers behind the scenes as they travel about. An optimistic book and lovely ending.

[William]

I opened to the Morning Stars and knew Lax would be one of those poets walking with me for months. The beauty and freedom of life