Clotheslines: A Collection of Poetry and Art

by Stan Tymorek

Whether we are fashion forward or oblivious to trends, clothing is our universal means of self-expression. Far from frivolous, clothing has served as much more than mere covering. Artists and writers throughout history have found inspiration in all kinds of garments, turning to everyday items like dresses and shoes to express the deeper emotions attached to them. With the same engaging concept he applied to Home, Stan Tymorek mixes and matches poems about clothing with paintings and photographs in an anthology that offers a fresh perspective on what we wear. By juxtaposing 50 poems and images from different places and times, Tymorek provides couplings that are at once provocative, poignant, thoughtful, and funny. An Edward Steichen photograph from Vogue modernizes an Elizabethan sonnet. Max Ernst and Elizabeth Bishop question the notions of gender contained in a hat. Jim Dine and John Updike jointly consider the strictures of the suit. Among the featured poets and artists are Robert Creeley, Dorothy Parker, Calvin Trillin, Sonia Delaunay, Gustav Klimt, and Andy Warhol.

Genres: Poetry, Art

112 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[Nanaz Carlson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit boring but good way of discussing clothes through poetry. Beautiful artwork. A handful of the poems are so popular readers may have come across them before.

[Liz Rizzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of poems, interestingly matched with artwork - both paintings and photos. The photos are a particularly eclectic mix, and it's interesting that some of the poems were clearly written for the collection. I more enjoyed the pairings that were found discoveries of synchronicity. There are some lovely gems here, in particular, a Pablo Neruda "Ode To My Socks," and a loving pairing of a Guy Davenport poem about a boy's sports shoes paired with an Annie Leibovitz photo of an airborne female soccer player kicking a ball. My favorite poem in the book was "My Hat" by Stevie Smith, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work, having found her here.

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somehow when I picked this up I did not realize all the poems were going to be about clothes. I’m just not that interested in poems s out clothing it appears, though Pablo Neruda’s ode to socks is a classic

[Marie-Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of complimentary words and images

[Kerfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using articles of clothing as the unifying motif, this anthology juxtaposes poetry and art. A useful format for both disciplines--complimentary creations can comment on and enlarge each other; as attention moves back and forth it also becomes more focused.

The first time through, I grazed. I was surprised by how many of the poems seemed even better the second time around, how well the accompanying art fit the words, or perhaps how the words fit the art.

Standouts included Elizabeth Bishop's "Exchanging Hats" alongside Max Ernst's "The Hat Makes the Man"; Ashile Gorky's "My mother told me many stories"/"How My Mother's Embroidered Apron Unfolds in my Life"; Pablo Neruda's "Ode to My Socks" contrasted with a photo from Vogue Knitting Socks; an excerpt from Theodore Enslin's "Her Signature Herself" next to Romare Beardon's "La Primavera"; and Edgard Braga's "In My Glove of Gold", opposite Klimt's "Life is a Struggle (The Golden Knight)".

Both the words and the visuals deserve multiple visits.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun