May Out West

by May Swenson

A postuhumous collection, first published in 1996, that takes the West as its focus and field. As the American West was a place of inspiration to May Swenson, and of origin, the book gathers her work about the region into a memorable and inspiring collection.

May Swenson ranks among the foremost American poets of her time. During her long career, she was praised by writers from virtually every major school of poetry, and in the world of academics and publishers, her name was a household word. She left a legacy o fnearly fifty years of writing when she died in 1989.

Genres: Poetry

72 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Anna Thilda May "May" Swenson was born in Logan, Utah to Swedish immigrant parents—and she grew up speaking Swedish at home. Swenson earned a BA from Utah State University and briefly worked as a reporter in Salt Lake City. She moved to New York City in the 1930s. Swenson is considered one of mid-twentieth-century America’s foremost poets.

Swenson’s poetry was widely praised for its precise and beguiling imagery, and for the quality of its personal and imaginative observations. Swenson’s ability to draw out the metaphysical implications of the material world were widely commented on; but she was also known for her lighthearted, even joyous, take on life.

Swenson left New York City in 1967, when she moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island where she lived with her partner, the author R.R. Knudson. During her prolific career, Swenson received numerous literary awards and nominations for her poetry. She taught and served as poet-in-residence at many institutions in both the United States and Canada, and she held fellowships from the Ford Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation. She was the recipient of the Shelley Memorial Award, the Bollingen Prize, and Award in Literature from the National Institute of Arts and Letters. She received an honorary degree from Utah State University as well as their Distinguished Service Gold Medal. Swenson was a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 1980-1989.

-- from The Poetry Foundation

Reviews

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

angular eels of light

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short selection of poems. I like the imagery.

[Isaac Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Centaur, Seed of My Father, Cumuli and Morning at Point Dume. I see her places, and remember my home as well. She has a very kinetic style that I really like and there is truth in her writing and voice, I have another of her poetry books, I hope I enjoy it as much this one.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have visited Ms. Swenson's grave and I live in her native home, so it was great to finally read some of her poetry. Although poetry is not my favorite genre, I I found these poems very accessible and understandable with beautiful imagery and personal memories.

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

lovely poetry about her native Cache valley and my favorite poem about Bear lake!