Loom-2012 Open Book Prize

by Sarah Gridley

The word loom calls us to the edges, perhaps even limits, of life―to what appears as the space and means of creation―and to what appears on that horizon, soliciting reflection and response. In Sarah Gridley’s third collection of poems, the word serves as emblem and omen, as signal object of meditation. At the loom―and looming―is The Lady of Shalott―poetic specter of Tennyson’s surfaced―and silenced―anima. Trusting in the deep ambiguities of text and textile, spirit and matter, masculine and feminine, Loom calls the Lady back to life, out of isolation, circumscription, and distraction. A book of poems set against the work of disconnection, Loom searches for reconstructions of gender, dwelling, and the sacred.

Genres: Poetry

88 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

BA Harvard University, 1990
MFA University of Montana, 2000

Assistant Professor of English, Case Western Reserve University

Reviews

[Brian Wasserman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just read the titles of the poems and you can anticipate how pretentious they will be

[Darrin Kramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A historical journey to stories of the past, combined with modern realities viewed by the poet. I liked the interplay of meaning. This is an interesting read for the academic community. If you like poetry that is easy to follow this might not be your book to read. However, if you like a challenge...go for it.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There is no other pattern of weathers and stars. There is an old goddess of Ice. There is a cold name for our mouths to shape the icy moonlight in her tracks."

The language itself -- I found myself copying specific words, paying close attention to diction -- spelled me here. Poetry of the mind, with such beauty and music. However hard to parse, connect.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book twice to make sure of my response to it. I really liked the prose poems in the long center section, but didn't care at all for the poem cycles that begin and end the book. One of the blurbs on the back of the book call the poems here "chaste" and "austere"--but I would be more inclined to call the poem cycles stingy. Just not enough going on in them to make the work of reading them worth it.