The Collected Poems

by John Ciardi, Edward M. Cifelli (Editor)

From Twenty Books of Verse published between 1940 and 1993, John Ciardi gives us poems of love written with care and honest discernment; poems of the natural world that reveal humanity's kinship to spiders and nebulae, oceans and thickets; and poems that tellingly render the ritual dance of human life and mortality.Ciardi declared in the Saturday Review that "(e)very good poet writes one poem more than his index shows and that is the total poem of all the others put together". For Ciardi, that "total poem" is The Collected Poems of John Ciardi, a work that reveals the poet's assurance of line and meter, his skill for distinctive and intense observation, his wit and unfailing candor, and his understanding of humanity, its weaknesses, and its need for mercy.

In his biography of Ciardi, Edward Cifelli says this poet is one best remembered and understood as writing in a special class of American poets, including contemporaries like Robert Lowell, Elizabeth Bishop, Richard Wilbur, and Randall Jarrell. This collection finally demonstrates the scope and wealth of his contribution to that era. Further, it shows how, while always experimenting in form and meter and perfectly matching his structures to his subject matter, Ciardi resolutely held to an aesthetic that kept his poetry' free of the wavering fashions that dominated American poetry in the latter half of the twentieth century In The Collected Poems of John Ciardi, editor Edward Cifelli has gathered for us a "total poem" that is a powerful revelation of the career of a great American poet.

Genres: Poetry

618 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

About the author

John Anthony Ciardi was an American poet, translator, editor, writer and etymologist.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s overwhelming to read in the editor’s introduction that this thick volume contains less than half the poetry Ciardi composed in his lifetime! And yet I’m very glad to know there is more to find of the kinds of verse I enjoyed most, such as his “Alphabestiary” and autobiographical “Lives of X.”

[Vincent Saint-Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sirs and Madams,

This was the first Ciardi book I ever read, and it was by accident while I was haphazardly shelving in a library. Nothing could have been more fortunate! That night I read what is still my favorite Ciardi poem--"Survival in Missouri." You can't find it in any of his other books, but I swear its worth searching out this one.

W,

V

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so I haven't read the whole thing...in fact, I only read pieces of it when I'm at a friend's house, but nevertheless, Ciardi's voice, subject, and overall humanity bowls me over; makes me weep tears with a smile on my face because it's all so beautiful. Poets, sheesh!

[Rude E · Rating 4 out of 5]

An original american voice in poetry...readable reflections on the second world war to reflecctions of a man looking back at his love of poetry. A professor friend of mine turned me on to Ciardi. Thank You! Joe.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best way to dive into the life's work of John Ciardi. Can't say it any better than the reviewers before me. A treasure to be shelved right next to your dictionary, thesaurus, and cookbooks!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

For My Nephew Going to Bed - I only read a few poems from this book, but they all seem to be for a little bit older of an audience.

[Michi Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Ciardi, and his translation of Dante's Divine Comedy!