The Wilderness: Poems

by Sandra Lim

From the winner of the 2013 Barnard Women Poets Prize, chosen by Louise Glück, a daring and exuberant new collection. Moving through myths of the American landscape, the fatalism of American Puritanism, family history, New England winters, aesthetic theory, and the suavities and anxieties of contemporary life, the poems in this astonishing collection ultimately speak about the individual soul’s struggle with its own meaning. “In its stern and quiet way Sandra Lim’s The Wilderness is one of the most thrilling books of poetry I have read in many years” (Louise Glück). From “Aubade” From the last stars to sunrise the world is dark and enduring
and emptiness has its place.

Then, to wake each day to the world’s unwavering
limits, you have to think about passion differently, again.

Genres: Poetry, Asian American

97 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2014

Reviews

[Gabriel Congdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dope, dope, dope, dope!


What a dope book of poetry. I wasn't ready for language poems to so dissect my brain
After the dissection, the poem should me who I am, they said, 'look at that this stuff. That's you, man.”
All my mental innards, all spayed out on the couch and lap and whatnot. I lookin at the old innards, 'So this is how I bandy about. I would have never guessed.”

I wouldn't have. That's why we have the pomes.

Clearly, it's difficult to convey. Clearly, this review so far isn't slicing the proverbial mustard. I just feel like none of the other reviewers are making enough WHOOPLA about what a goddman event this is!

Here was my experience. Let's say you're climbing a mountain, but it was a mountain of the self, and each time you reached for a new handhold, one of these poems formed perfectly the fit. You see? Because, because, the words themselves are loosey-goosey. You'd think you'd need something a little sturdier to grasp, for climbing the mountain, but no. They're both of the world and not.

On second thought, maybe you wouldn't like them. Maybe they're a tad visceral for the shirt stuffers of materialism. They're probably too elusive for the likes of the Tell Me, Just Tell Me'ers. I doubt much loin can be purrrred from the decimal dorks of showroom fliction. Let's just awning this frontage with purple fillagree and a LiPo parrot, shall we, keep out all the SQUARES.

Wait. I did finish reading this a few weeks ago. Let me go read one just to make sure.
.
.
.
Oh yeah. So dope.

[hh · Rating 4 out of 5]

quietly sensuous, a kind of walk along a forest edge.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

The experience of reading this book was like chewing on ice cubes. "Garden Quarrel" was one of the poems that I did enjoy. And there definitely were some really great lines to be found in this collection. However, as a whole this book was rather difficult for me to get through; the poems' voice and content were just not my cup of tea.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing collection of poetry; the winner of the Barnard Women Poets Prize. Lim explores the space between our inner and outer selves and the world at large, the unknowability of existence. Stark and beautiful, this collection is highly recommended.

[Hamid · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was looking forward to this. Haven't read a poetry collection in quite some time and this prize-winning author was recommended by Oprah. And it's very much not for me. It has the pretension of someone in high school trying out poetry for the first time. There's not much depth I can find. There's no real art to the language or form. Instead, we have a collection of opaque meditations, with a peppering of French, the language obscuring rather than revealing internal truth.

Some choice quotes include:

'The cat in heat is in the grip of a new idea: she barks !'

'There are only the living and the dead: roses climbing a battered trellis. A caterpillar turns its hard black goggles upon the cold meat of me'

No. Definitely not for me. Alas.

[Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 1 is great, and I think my preference for shorter poetry (up to two or three pages max), is the only reason I don't like the other parts as much. But I find that I prefer wilderness themes and they feel most in focus in Part 1 as well. So read this review with a grain of salt.

The themes presented in this collection are wonderful. Anyone who likes a little meditation on longing, impermanence, or what we generally reflect on as we come to understand more of what's around us should like these poems. They have a very slight angst to go with introspective lines and a proper amount of complimentary humor.

favorites: Human Interest Story, Certainty (both poems), The Concert

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection of poetry with a harsh but subtle tone to it. I liked the battle between spring and snow that works to set back the new beginning and the forest that grows on the periphery. The unknown that calls us.

...
What is death
but reason
in flawless submission
to itself

no
not reason

something stonier

-Unfluer

A great collection that grows in the reader's imagination and will stay fresh read after read.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Just a few standout poems. Something about her tone just wasn't connecting for me.

"I wanted to watch the shape / of a movement, / the trajectory of a body as it makes // the shapes that it will in a limited ambit / revolving around an implied center." --from "Rite of Spring"

"Human Interest Story" and "Small Container, Fury" were also favorites.

[Carla]

Such quiet originality in these poems— hints of Stevens and Dickinson. Lim’s stark, edgy with a sense of history: “You have always believed these are your themes: fate, the negative pleasures of dipping oneself in acid.”

[Karna Bosman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't yet connect well enough with poetry to give an adequate rating. I enjoyed reading this book but often struggled to guess what was being said. Periodically truths are presented that resonate with me.

[s · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUCH A GOOD BOOK!! I'm in love, I probably will reread this book because... I like it that much

[Manu Ribxs · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnr

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lim has written a book that is not only beautiful, but is such a great study for the craft of poetry. This is my second time around reading this book and I am simultaneously inspired to write, study the book again for the work it does with line, presenting time/memories through fragmentation, as well as just to contemplate the imagery used. So good.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I’m not artistic enough to fully appreciate the hidden subtext and meanings behind each verse and stanza. I found the poems beautiful and repetition in the themes throughout the book: loss, longing, meaninglessness, wilderness, anger, beauty, and the soul. But it was very hard to understand what the whole of each poem really meant. Where the metaphors lead? The imagery is beautiful and I liked trying to solve the puzzle of words and their meaning, but I never ended up fully understanding any one poem fully.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous, moving collection of poetry. Lim creates amazing, evocative imagery, especially using seemingly barren wild places (snow, desert) to tell gripping, emotional stories. I'll be reading this one again.

[Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book of poetry. The poems are consistently interesting and illuminating. They, unlike much good poetry, are also inspiring and a source of ideas for other writings.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provocative, yet understated. The poems stayed with me, sparking an internal probing of where I fit in this world. Memorable.

[Darrin Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding poet. She views a harsh world with pure clarity of thought. I really enjoyed a view of the world from another angle, though much different from my writing style.

[Jessie Seagull · Rating 5 out of 5]

is very good book,
so excelent and beautiful im like