In Memory of an Angel

by David Shapiro

Named after Alban Berg's famed violin concerto, In Memory of an Angel is the first full-length collection in fifteen years from New York School maestro David Shapiro. Packed with erudition, pursuing themes of art history, architecture, literature, and Jewish identity, the poems of In Memory of an Angel achieve a rare combination of lyrical abstraction and postmodern self-referentiality, rendered with Shapiro's understated virtuosity. Yet there's a strong current of love poetry flowing through these avant-garde ruminations, as well as reminiscences of childhood and reflections on fatherhood. A surrealistic violation of the boundary between the real and the dream pervades In Memory of an Angel . Shapiro's poems take a bewildering variety of forms, many of his own invention, even as he is equally at home in the quotidian and anecdotal. Andy Warhol, Allen Ginsberg, Jasper Johns, Frank O'Hara—these are only some of the characters peopling Shapiro’s New York, a landscape both sophisticated and haunted by memory. The author of 10 previous books of poems, as well as monographs on John Ashbery, Jim Dine, Jasper Johns, and Mondrian, David Shapiro is a member of the second generation of New York School poets. A child prodigy on the violin, he went on to become a literary and art critic and teaches at Patterson College and Cooper Union. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has received awards from the Merrill Foundation, the NEA, the NEH, and the Graham Foundation. He lives in Riverdale, the Bronx, NYC. Praise for In Memory of an Angel : "A Taoist, a Kabbalist, and a Dadaist walk into a bar. They discover that the bar is really David Shapiro’s new book of poems, where they can drink 'tears from sleeping birds' and relax 'in/ the soft hands/ of the gods.' In Memory of an Angel literally drenches the reader in moments of wonder. Shapiro’s gift is unique. He possesses a childlike, not innocence, but sophistication. His playful erudition draws in everyone from Andy Warhol, to Kenneth Koch, to John Dewey—and it welcomes you as well, in its democratic embrace."— Elaine Equi "David Shapiro published his first book, A Book of Poems , while still a teenager. Since then, now for over fifty years, he has remained one of our very finest American poets. His mind is illuminated and his poems luminous. In Memory of an Angel is a strikingly beautiful and invaluable selection of his work!"— Jim Jarmusch "It's always a deep pleasure when David Shapiro has a new book, he never ceases to astonish, he has built a singular, hyper-lyrical, always brilliant poetry. In Memory of an Angel is filled with spells and charms and spinning language, elegy, and wild proclamations; as he “I invented the new movement / without photographs like / the affair of the whole being / as it was said ferocious and / intimate and I invent it / to last.” And so it will."— Peter Gizzi " In Memory of an Angel mesmerizes with virtuosic greatness; a deft masterwork by a poet’s poet whose sui generis genius has for five decades defied and invigorated the New York School label. Shapiro upends language not for less meaning, but more—and for a multilayered storytelling sufficiently unfettered to get at life’s labyrinthine mix of 'cardboard and gold' promise and peril. Pervaded by wide erudition and a skilled violinist’s musical acuity, these wise, many-angled poems reward rumination, with their dream-drenched mystery, verbal excitement and open-ended, sometimes near-mystical profundity; always with Shapiro’s pluralistic heart on his metaphysical sleeve."— Kate Farrell

Genres: Poetry

88 pages, Paperback

Published April 25, 2017

Reviews

[Robert Swanson · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I tracked down and got a copy of this book from an associated library to my town's library. First I had to get a library card from Oswego, then get them to allow me hold-capabilities, then pick up the book at the COVID-required curb-side pickup. All to be disappointed.

I came across this book in a mistaken reference in the English translation of Sleep of Memory, by Patrick Modiano. A blogger had lazily referenced the book title, and the name of the author, and its connection to the New York School of poetry, because a simple and lazy search on the web turns up these pieces of information. However, the book was a translation from French and a search on the French title makes much, much, more sense.

But by now I'd already reserved this book of poetry, and looked up the New York School of Poetry and was hopeful. And, there is a blurb on the book by Jim Jarmusch, gotta be worth a read.

Disappointed. I am not much of a reader of poetry to start with; my poetry likes tend toward Frost and away from Ginsberg. The New York School of Poets requires a knowledge of "literary surrealism and abstract expressionist painting." They also like to reference each other in their poems (a quick survey of on-line examples of practitioners of this school of poetry makes this evident).

I give it a two, instead of a one-star, because although I didn't find one poem that I liked, even partially, I'll admit that if I understood the language, the referents, I might like what is being said.

So, a mistaken reference to the wrong book did result in my learning about the New York School of poetry, enough to know not to bother with other poets of this school.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually prefer more traditional forms of verse, but the abstract/nontraditional style really suits Mr. David Shapiro. My favorite poem from this selection is "What's Wrong With Him". I would definitely read more of his works in the future. I obtained my copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.

[b · Rating 4 out of 5]

the loss of this poet is unimaginable! such an joy to read him and think.

“300 species of hummingbirds
But only two kinds of poetry
Yours and ours, the language.”