Trace Elements

by Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan, whose first book Channel won the 1989 Barnard New Women Poets Prize, writes poetry that is richly textured, simultaneously rigorous and elegant. Her work explores scientific and imaginative models of the universe and our place in it. This, her second collection, examines residues of meaning and mystery - in history, nature, belief systems - from a place of abandonment or skepticism. What can we know? How do we order knowledge? What are twentieth-century versions of the Fall? Jordan investigates trace elements, like clues that might be followed back to some overarching source.

Genres: Poetry

Hardcover

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

American politician Barbara Charline Jordan, an eloquent spokesperson for the rights of the disadvantaged, served as a representative of United States from Texas from 1973 to 1979.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara...

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry books that feature science successfully are few and far between. This is a brilliant book that uses biology very effectively and emotively. Big cosmic questions dwelt on as well. I love this book to the point of distraction. (For fans of this kind of work, also check out Stefi Weisburd's The Wind-up Gods, which is just as skillfully done, but more playful).

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Jordan is a master. Her language is delicious and profoundly aware of itself, her allusions are grand yet humble. The perfect autumnal read. However, I do not recommend it for those who desire poetry to be easily accessible. Jordan willingly abstracts herself, and her reader must be able to suffer and welcome the depths of this obscurity.

[Julene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have this book on my shelf and read it long ago. I will have to revisit it to do a review.