A History of Color: New and Selected Poems

by Stanley Moss

Few poets today, even very good ones, write lines, as Stanley Moss does, that are so exquisitely crafted you cannot help but remember them. "What is heaven but the history of color," begins the new long poem after which this book is named. "We know at ninety sometimes it aches to sing," begins another poem, for a woman upon her ninetieth birthday. In the hands of this master, "Ah who art in heaven," transmigrates to the quieting "ah, ah, baby." And here is Moss in an early "I’ve always had a preference / for politics you could sing / on the stage of the Scala," ending that poem with words attributed to "I don’t know what the soul is, / but whatever it is, I know it can humble itself."
A History of New and Collected Poems by Stanley Moss is the first one-volume, complete edition of the poetry of this important living American poet. A History of Color proposes poetry that is made to be useful. Moss is our leading psalmist. Metaphors for wonder abound, his language one of sorrow and exaltation.

Genres: Poetry

248 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mike Walter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Ok

I read an obituary of Stanley Moss this year and I was intrigued because I had never heard of him yet he had a pretty extensive career as a poet. So I bought this compilation of his poetry throughout his career. While there were a few poems that I liked most it was just ok and some were downright unreadable. Oh well. Poetry, like all art, is subjective. These just didn’t connect with me.

[Steven Severance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble getting a grasp of this poet.
He is a faithless man who is obsessed with religion. He cannot let it go.
Perhaps he wishes he had faith but maybe not.

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[Ci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moss's most memorable poem is the title one -- a highly visual history of color across biblical and actual history. Other poems demonstrate Moss's range from his Jewish ancestry, his mastery of Hebrew Bible, his international interest and his friends and families. Moss's poetic language is approachable, sometimes shockingly frank, but most visual and emotionally moving.