Poems New and Selected

by James Laughlin

The poetry of the late James Laughlin (1914-97) spans a period of over sixty years, from the first verses written in his signature "typewriter" metric to the most recent pieces that open his Poems New and Selected. Laughlin reveals himself in his poems as a master of concision, of the well-placed word that penetrates the human heart. Over two hund R ed and twenty five poems included here show his technical brilliance as in short- and long-line poems; in the three-stress verses of his autobiographical "Byways"; in "Epigrams," amatory and otherwise, and "Pentastichs"; in idiosyncratic "(American) French" poems and their translations of his own devising. For readers coming to Laughlin's work for the first time, this collection will be a sea of undiscovered riches, and for longtime devotees, a chance to ply once again the well-chartered waters of his poetry. James Laughlin founded New Directions in 1936. His own first book of poems, Some Natural Things ―the first of many―appeared nine years later. His most recent collections include The Secret Room (1996) and The Love Poems of James Laughlin (1997).

Genres: Poetry, 20th Century

293 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

James Laughlin was an American poet and literary book publisher who founded New Directions Publishing.

One of Laughlin's most anthologized works is "Step on His Head", a poem about his relationship with his children.

Reviews

[Cooper Renner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the book is simply prose in lines, which Laughlin admits. But several of the poems are quite good, especially from the "new" section (meaning he got better in old age, I guess), and most are at least not stupid.

[Mikael · Rating 4 out of 5]

no talent absolutely said ep i agree just like me