Lyric Postmodernisms: An Anthology of Contemporary Innovative Poetries

by Reginald Shepherd (editor)

Lyric Postmodernisms gathers many well established poets whose work transcends the boundaries between traditional lyric and avant-garde experimentation. Some have been publishing since the 1960s, some have emerged more recently, but all have been influential on newer generations of American poets. Many of these poets are usually not thought of together, being considered as members of different poetic camps, but they nonetheless participate in a common project of expanding the boundaries of what can be said and done in poetry. This anthology sheds new light on their work, creating a new constellation of contemporary American poetry. Bruce Beasley, Martine Bellen, Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, Gillian Conoley, Kathleen Fraser, Forrest Gander, C. S. Giscombe, Peter Gizzi, Brenda Hillman, Claudia Keelan, Timothy Liu, Nathaniel Mackey, Suzanne Paola, Bin Ramke, Donald Revell, Martha Ronk, Aaron Shurin, Carol Snow, Susan Stewart, Cole Swensen, Rosmarie Waldrop, Marjorie Welish, and Elizabeth Willis.

Genres: Poetry, Anthologies

280 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2008

About the author

Reginald Shepherd was the editor of The Iowa Anthology of New American Poetries (University of Iowa Press, 2004) and of Lyric Postmodernisms (Counterpath Press, 2008). He is the author of: Fata Morgana (2007), winner of the Silver Medal of the 2007 Florida Book Awards, Otherhood (2003), a finalist for the 2004 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, Wrong (1999), Angel, Interrupted (1996), and Some Are Drowning (1994), winner of the 1993 Associated Writing Programs’ Award in Poetry (all University of Pittsburgh Press). Shepherd's work has appeared in four editions of The Best American Poetry and two Pushcart Prize anthologies, as well as in such journals as American Poetry Review, Conjunctions, The Kenyon Review, The Nation, The New York Times Book Review, Ploughshares, Poetry, and The Yale Review. It has also been widely anthologized. He is also the author of Orpheus in the Bronx: Essays on Identity, Politics, and the Freedom of Poetry (Poets on Poetry Series, University of Michigan Press). Shepherd has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, the Florida Arts Council, and the Guggenheim Foundation, among other awards and honors.

Reviews

[Paula Koneazny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology accomplishes what it purports to, which is to explore the lyrical tradition within the context of postmodern poetry. Reginald Shepard's choice of poets is a representative one. For many of these poets, the work included here may not be their most radical or innovative to date, but the selections from each do fit under the rubric of lyrical postmodernism. For a reader already conversant with the poetry of the contemporary "avant garde," most of the 23 poets included here will be familiar ones: Bin Ramke, Gillian Conoley, Martha Ronk, C. S. Giscombe, Carol Snow, Rosemary Waldrop, Mei Mei Berssenbrugge to name a few. For readers who are just beginning to explore such poetry this anthology offers a guided entry, as each poet's work is preceded by a short artist's statement. In fact, the artist's statements, to my mind, are the main attraction of this collection. They are varied, informative, and provocative and may well help a reader or writer, whether or not already a fellow-traveler, to rethink or hone his or her own poetics or aesthetics.

[Collin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a variety of reasons I find this anthology is dynamite. A range of avante-garde poets are solidly represented. The closing prose poems by Elizabeth Willis are personal favorites. And unlike most poetry anthologies that provide only selections of a poet's work, this collection also offers statements by each artist about their work. Small manifesto-like pieces foreground the poet's work, which I think lends itself to a great contextuality in thinking about the roots of modern poetics and working within and against that tradition of song making. Plus the introduction by Reginald Shepherd is eloquent, expansive, and to my mind, somewhat haunting. May that great poet rest in peace.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's interesting exploring this Wittgenstein-inspired anthology while exploring American Hybrid. In particular, comparing the editors' essays and the short pieces written by the poets and about the poets. The two anthologies complement each other.

[Sarah Giragosian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything Reginald Shepherd touches is gold.

[Michelle]

Must read.

[Mark Folse]

Not a review: I think this is going to be my primary work-related text, setting writing exercises based on each poet's chapter.