Amulet

by Carl Rakosi

Carl Rakosi was an Objectivist poet who earned comparisons to William Carlos Williams and Wallace Stevens for his humor and lyricism. After a thirty-year career as a social worker, he returned to poetry in 1967 with his collection Amulet and continued to write steadily until his death in 2004.

Genres: Poetry

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Tristan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll preface this by saying I am not universally sold on the Objectivist poets. As such, I may have been colored by Rakosi's associations with this school, although most of these poems were very good. Overall, the section I liked best was the middle one, titled "Americana" especially the poems "Figures in Ancient Ink", "Four Characters and a Place in The Merchant of Venice" and "A Journey Away". I also really liked "The City (1925)", which is in the first section. I am torn between giving this three and four stars, because some poems were really good, but others were less than exciting. Many were, in classic Objectivist manner, just a description, and some of those were more interesting than others. Overall, this was a pretty good book for the lover of poetry, especially if he is a William Carlos Williams fan.

[Jerome Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect blend of literary and adventuresome!

There’s something distinctly classical and worldly about the work of Carl Rakosi. One feels as though they are visiting Greece or Italy, admiring their ruins and beaches, like leafing through scenes from a National Geographic but more immediate and accessible - you can feel the rough textures, all but taste the cuisine and smell the greenery. The gravitas exuded is almost palpable in every piece, and one imagines the words being solemnly narrated in a British accent by some famous player who’s been long ago knighted. Patrick Stewart comes most immediately to mind. Vivifying stuff, the reader races through and is left wanting more. Apparently this collection was preceded by a long period of inactivity, and the way it springs eagerly to life communicates that zeal and return, delight of rediscovery stunningly. Definitely makes me want to read more of the Objectivist group of poets Rakosi is attributed membership to, if this represents an indication of their modus operandi. Kudos to Half Price Books in St. Paul for introducing me to this little wonder, couldn’t imagine a better way to spend a winter weekend.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not earth-shattering, not a great discovery like Niedecker, but sometimes funny, often rich in image (or object if you prefer), and not saturated in self as too many ‘60s books (and poetry books since) have been.

[Mitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm actually rating the New Directions edition, which, as far as I know, is the same. Good poems, workmanlike, objectivist examples. Rakosi never excited me as much as Reznikoff or Oppen, for that matter, but these are pretty good.

[AlexWatson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very welcome return to the field by a writer entranced with sprightlier Reznikoff. Deft short stichs of humor and clarity fit write in there with the 60s milieu groove, too. Ex Cranium, Night is also amazing.

[Jeff Laughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Friends of Willy Carlos Williams are friends of mine. Rakosi is scientific and bright in his descriptions and oftentimes brilliantly-laced in his anger.