Radiography : Poems

by Bruce Bond

This collection of lyrical and narrative poems establishes Bruce Bond as one of the finest mid-career American poets. Bond's poetry speaks to themes as varied and timeless as the American Civil War, Narcissus, Abraham and Isaac, and the paintings of Caravaggio and Edward Hopper.

Genres: Poetry

72 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1997

About the author

Bruce Bond is the author of eight previous books of poetry including, most recently, Choir of the Wells (Etruscan Press, 2012), The Visible (LSU, 2012), Peal (Etruscan, 2009), and Blind Rain (Finalist, The Poets Prize; LSU, 2008).

After receiving degrees in English from Pomona College and Claremont Graduate School, Bruce Bond earned his MA in Music Performance from Lamont School of Music. For several years then he worked as a classical and jazz musician in Colorado, after which he went on to receive his PhD in English from the University of Denver. His poetry has appeared in Best American Poetry, The Yale Review, The Georgia Review, Raritan, The New Republic, The Virginia Quarterly, Poetry, and many other journals, and he has received numerous honors including fellowships from the NEA, Texas Commission on the Arts, The Institute for the Advancement of the Arts, and other organizations. Presently he is Regents Professor of English at the University of North Texas and Poetry Editor for American Literary Review.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Creative Writing" wasn't my major in college, but when I was at UNT I took a poetry writing course since I had an itch to (1) learn more about poetry, and (2) try my hand at it.

I was fortunate to have Bruce Bond as my professor. I remember how this powerhouse of a poet was so inviting and encouraging for us twenty-somethings trying to master a craft that is often associated (perhaps rightfully so) with pretension.

I picked up Radiography at a second-hand bookstore in Denton, Texas, solely because I admired Professor Bond so much as a teacher; it seemed like I owed him something in return for the work he did for our class.

"Radiography" is a solid collection. Here are the poems that made the biggest impression on me:

Native Tongue
Host
Postcard of Atomic Bomb Test, Yucca Flat, 1953
North: 1991
Aim
Vaccine
Homage to Szymon Laks
Documentary
Easter Sunday
Isaac

The thing that seems to bind many of these poems together is their visceral quality. They are shot through with physical sensations and resonant images. Enjoy.

[Debesh Kumar]

Read

[Patricia Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our incompetence was mercy, the way it spared us our little cruelties.