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Our Portion: New and Selected Poems
The new and selected collection of Philip Terman's illustrates the poet's deep understanding and compassion for our world. Spanning 20 years of poetry, this collection of poems focuses on themes of nature, literature, family, and Judaism.
- GenresPoetry
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 26, 2017
When reading poetry, I'm usually outside my comfort zone. I love fiction and can enjoy nonfiction, especially when it's on a subject of great interest to me. Poetry is generally an effort, requiring extra concentration to feel I'm comprehending what is being conveyed. I know, I must be trying too hard. It's an art form and should be experienced as such without insistence on nailing down a rigid meaning for every line. Thus, I'm not the perfect person to do a review on a book of poetry.
Having said all that, I decided to give this book my full attention. I had heard a few of the selections on Garrison Keillor's show, "The Writer's Almanac." I so admire and respect Keillor. If this poetry is good enough to be singled out multiple times by a writer of his stature, I figure I should take a close look. I came away with a better understanding and greater appreciation of poetry in general. But this journey truly gave me a look at the world through the eyes of Philip Terman as a person and as a poet. I can see the patterns of his thought: the beauty and the injustice, city and country, Jewish life, international perspective, love of family and love of life. There's the tragedy, the humor, the personal view and the objective.
Picking up momentum, I began to see what it is to be a true poet. As the artist sees the world differently than most of us in terms of lights and shadows, the poet sees the world in ways unique to lyrical wordsmiths. I feel I am richer for having shared the insights of Terman. I can even say that having read this book has improved my own style as a writer of prose. I would like to think it has organically become more poetic without striving to make it appear so. I sincerely recommend "Our Portion" for readers of all kinds.
Having said all that, I decided to give this book my full attention. I had heard a few of the selections on Garrison Keillor's show, "The Writer's Almanac." I so admire and respect Keillor. If this poetry is good enough to be singled out multiple times by a writer of his stature, I figure I should take a close look. I came away with a better understanding and greater appreciation of poetry in general. But this journey truly gave me a look at the world through the eyes of Philip Terman as a person and as a poet. I can see the patterns of his thought: the beauty and the injustice, city and country, Jewish life, international perspective, love of family and love of life. There's the tragedy, the humor, the personal view and the objective.
Picking up momentum, I began to see what it is to be a true poet. As the artist sees the world differently than most of us in terms of lights and shadows, the poet sees the world in ways unique to lyrical wordsmiths. I feel I am richer for having shared the insights of Terman. I can even say that having read this book has improved my own style as a writer of prose. I would like to think it has organically become more poetic without striving to make it appear so. I sincerely recommend "Our Portion" for readers of all kinds.
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January 30, 2022It covers the whole poet.. past and present- giving a panoramic glance at his rural soul and his passions for the closed circle of the family, the essential family, plus some songs on other poets.
I think it is Philip Terman himself.
I think it is Philip Terman himself.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews