All Clear

James Dickey Contemporary Poetry

by Robert Hahn

Although All Clear will serve as an introduction to Robert Hahn for many readers, this accomplished poet has been perfecting his craft for a quarter of a century. With this colleciton Hahn offers poems that range from sestinas to sharp-edged lyrics, from the meditative drift of "Attending" to the intricate precision of "False Dawn." The settings in All Clear shift from the pastoral to the urban, from Wellfleet Harbor to a Paris street, from an operating room to Chavez Ravine. The figures in the book, including John Huston, Bix Beiderbecke, and J. M. S. Turner, are often artists who altered perceptions of reality by creating their own separate worlds. Ultimately, the radiance of All Clear creates its own transforming vision of the world as we find it.

71 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

Reviews

[Deb Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Hahn was my poetry teacher and my friend. His work has always challenged me and inspired me.

This collection is laden with emeritus level literary references, brilliant and often demanding, but as I read each poem, I am reminded of the humility of the poet and his passion for getting the words right.

He was a brilliant teacher and probably still is. He is also an important poet with a sly but beguiling style that takes no prisoners. Jump in and be prepared to think!