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Alchemy
The language usage in this book of poetry is superb, with notable diction and the precision of scientific inquiry. As a co-traveler in science, I’m right on track with Rae’s descriptions translated into poetry. Her use of language is novel, as in “Dandelions fret into a fluster of seed.” Her internal rhymes tighten each poem successfully. The wonders of the natural world are on full display in this book, which I heartily recommend.
— Eric Forsbergh , multiple prize winner Poetry Society of Virginia, retired health care worker
Embryology, cosmology, evolution . . . double helices, insect wings, quarks . . . mystery, contemplation, the poems of Alchemy wend their way through an expanding universe of discovery. There is scarcely a field of science or philosophy that Rae Spencer does not embrace in this collection, using language both precise and technical as well as elevated and elevating. Nothing is beneath our noticing; nothing is unworthy of praise. Perhaps the best way to approach this collection is as, in the poet’s own words, “a patchwork philosophy of wonder.”
— Bill Griffin , North Carolina naturalist & poet; griffinpoetry.com
Starting with quotes from great thinkers such as Kant, Darwin, Bacon, and Newton, Rae Spencer takes us on a poetic exploration of science, math, geographies of the land and the interior mind, the origins and nature of life. She is a gifted guide to the natural world. The beauty and efficiency of her words are equations come to life, making the most intricate concepts sing, leaving us more open to understanding than we may have ever felt inside a physics or philosophy class. Alchemy is remarkable science and even more remarkable poetry.
— Annmarie Lockhart , founding editor, vox poetica
— Eric Forsbergh , multiple prize winner Poetry Society of Virginia, retired health care worker
Embryology, cosmology, evolution . . . double helices, insect wings, quarks . . . mystery, contemplation, the poems of Alchemy wend their way through an expanding universe of discovery. There is scarcely a field of science or philosophy that Rae Spencer does not embrace in this collection, using language both precise and technical as well as elevated and elevating. Nothing is beneath our noticing; nothing is unworthy of praise. Perhaps the best way to approach this collection is as, in the poet’s own words, “a patchwork philosophy of wonder.”
— Bill Griffin , North Carolina naturalist & poet; griffinpoetry.com
Starting with quotes from great thinkers such as Kant, Darwin, Bacon, and Newton, Rae Spencer takes us on a poetic exploration of science, math, geographies of the land and the interior mind, the origins and nature of life. She is a gifted guide to the natural world. The beauty and efficiency of her words are equations come to life, making the most intricate concepts sing, leaving us more open to understanding than we may have ever felt inside a physics or philosophy class. Alchemy is remarkable science and even more remarkable poetry.
— Annmarie Lockhart , founding editor, vox poetica
Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2024
About the author
Rae Spencer
6 books60 followersRae Spencer lives in the beautiful Penns Woods, a country girl at heart, she loves to read and write romance, fantasy, and poetry. She enjoys being out in nature and loves the beauty to be found but her reclusiveness, eccentricity, and dry sarcastic sense of humor gets her in trouble at times. Rae calls herself the ‘black sheep’ of her family, being very different in personality and looks, and relishes the fact. She has a fetish for rock and roll especially bass players, peanut M&M’s, history, genealogy, and coffee.
Rae’s idea of exercise is a few swings of her hula-hoop, dancing around the living room when alone, walking up and down the stairs to do laundry, and taking care of her granddaughter. As an avid dog lover, she supports various pet related causes, and has three dogs: an AmStaff, Border Collie, and Pomeranian. Starting over in multiple aspects of her life, Rae is pursuing her dreams and has released four novella’s “Beyond A Proposition”, “For Everything”, “Only You Butterfly”, “Claiming Her Tomorrows”, and a short story “Cigány Flame” included in the anthology “Indulgence”, all released by Lazy Day Publishing.
Rae believes her love of historical romances played a large role in helping her pass her High School History classes and for cultivating her love of History. She hopes those who read her stories loose themselves for a little while in the story and leave the dredge of reality behind them forgetting their troubles, if only for a few moments.
Rae’s idea of exercise is a few swings of her hula-hoop, dancing around the living room when alone, walking up and down the stairs to do laundry, and taking care of her granddaughter. As an avid dog lover, she supports various pet related causes, and has three dogs: an AmStaff, Border Collie, and Pomeranian. Starting over in multiple aspects of her life, Rae is pursuing her dreams and has released four novella’s “Beyond A Proposition”, “For Everything”, “Only You Butterfly”, “Claiming Her Tomorrows”, and a short story “Cigány Flame” included in the anthology “Indulgence”, all released by Lazy Day Publishing.
Rae believes her love of historical romances played a large role in helping her pass her High School History classes and for cultivating her love of History. She hopes those who read her stories loose themselves for a little while in the story and leave the dredge of reality behind them forgetting their troubles, if only for a few moments.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 25, 2024
I was asked to review this book a while ago and I started reading it immediately, but have only just finished it because after almost every poem I had to put the book aside to think about what I'd just read.
Divided into sections that mirror the sections of a scientific report (Introduction, Methodologies, Results, Discussion, Conclusion) this is an ambitious second collection from US veterinarian and poet Rae Spencer. Covering a wide range of topics from science, it is thought-provoking, beautifully written and well worth reading slowly so you can savour the words.
From the opening poem 'Expansion' which uses Alice in Wonderland to explore ideas around space and time, the reader is taken on a scientific adventure. Charles Darwin is quoted in Means of Dispersal which looks at his scientific studies of seeds. The poems also question science, in Progress, makes the point that the search for the Unified Theory of Everything 'doesn't postulate / Why we need to know / Everything'. My House is On Fire beautifully compares ladybirds to constellations 'an ambling zodiac of seven spots'. Pelagic Study looks at shoals of fish: 'schooled in the notion / that same means safe'.
As well as the poet's eye and ear for a memorable phrase, I particularly admire her use of enjambment, where the meaning runs on and changes subtly from one line to the next, here's just one example from Luminiferous Ether, which is about the ether that early scientists proposed as the substance that carried light:
galactic coordinates and mapped
against math
where the reader imagines one meaning for mapped when reading the first line alone, but the context changes as you read the next line.
Other poems examine or speculate about a wealth of biological and other scientific topics including: early human ancestors, cave art and the evolution of human communication, fungal communication, animal instincts and the life cycles of cicadas.
This would be a wonderful Christmas gift for any scientifically minded poetry fans out there, and for those who aren't scientifically minded it may well ignite an interest in the sciences.
Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Divided into sections that mirror the sections of a scientific report (Introduction, Methodologies, Results, Discussion, Conclusion) this is an ambitious second collection from US veterinarian and poet Rae Spencer. Covering a wide range of topics from science, it is thought-provoking, beautifully written and well worth reading slowly so you can savour the words.
From the opening poem 'Expansion' which uses Alice in Wonderland to explore ideas around space and time, the reader is taken on a scientific adventure. Charles Darwin is quoted in Means of Dispersal which looks at his scientific studies of seeds. The poems also question science, in Progress, makes the point that the search for the Unified Theory of Everything 'doesn't postulate / Why we need to know / Everything'. My House is On Fire beautifully compares ladybirds to constellations 'an ambling zodiac of seven spots'. Pelagic Study looks at shoals of fish: 'schooled in the notion / that same means safe'.
As well as the poet's eye and ear for a memorable phrase, I particularly admire her use of enjambment, where the meaning runs on and changes subtly from one line to the next, here's just one example from Luminiferous Ether, which is about the ether that early scientists proposed as the substance that carried light:
galactic coordinates and mapped
against math
where the reader imagines one meaning for mapped when reading the first line alone, but the context changes as you read the next line.
Other poems examine or speculate about a wealth of biological and other scientific topics including: early human ancestors, cave art and the evolution of human communication, fungal communication, animal instincts and the life cycles of cicadas.
This would be a wonderful Christmas gift for any scientifically minded poetry fans out there, and for those who aren't scientifically minded it may well ignite an interest in the sciences.
Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review