Why Am I Grown So Cold? Poems of the Unknowable

by Myra Cohn Livingston

In twelve sections containing some one hundred fifty poems that range over the centuries and come from many countries and cultures, Myra Livingston has gathered this rich selection of "unknowables." Science has explained a great deal, but it has yet to unravel many mysteries; these mysteries are the substance of this collection.

Genres: Poetry, Horror, Fantasy, Supernatural

269 pages

First published September 1, 1982

About the author

Myra Cohn Livingston was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her family moved to California when she was 12 years old. She studied the French horn from age 12 to age 20, becoming so good that the Los Angeles Philharmonic invited her to join them when she was 16 years old. She had other plans. She knew she wanted to write.

Reviews

[Elif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of poems. Available to borrow on the internet archive.

[Sarah Yeager · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent collection gifted to me. It is perfect for Autumn and I am far from disappointed. Though, I didn't love every single poem (as is to be expected, of course), I did love the overall collection itself and the way in which it was split into parts. Definitely recommend to old style poetry lovers who like a little creepiness and a lot of fall themes.

[Isabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This poetry collection was middle of the road. I don’t normally read poetry but this collection of poems was really interesting! I really enjoyed how the poems were split into “chapter” with the major themes and subjects of the poems contained. I would definitely recommend this book to poetry fans or someone looking into uncommon poetry.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun collection!

[Derek Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable collection - but too many poems in translation for my taste. These are often sub-par. And isn't Ted Hughes a dreadful, wholly unmusical poet!

[Douglas Summers-Stay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful anthology of poetry about the numinous, the supernatural, and the fantastic. A few samples:

Deep in a windless
wood, not one leaf dares to move...
Something is afraid.

Buson

-------

In Black Chasms

In black chasms, in caves where water
Drops and drips, in caves deep in the ground,
The ogres wait. A thousand years will not
Alter them. They are hideous, bad-tempered,
Bound only to be cruel, enemies of all.
Slow-moving, lazy, their long hard arms
Are strong as bulldozers, their red eyes
Gleam with deceit. When they smile,
It is not with kindness. In their language
They have no words for friendship, honesty,
Loyalty, generosity. Their names are
Bully, Slyness, Greed, Vandal, and Cunning.
They hate light and wuarrel among themselves.
A single ogre will pass by or only threaten
In his loud, rough voice, but they are dangerous
In packs. Be on your guard against them, keep
Always a brave front, value your friends,
For they are needed against ogres.

Leslie Norris

[christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy poetry. This was one of my favorite books as a child and I still want to find a copy to see if the book still has it. Haha. As I remember it was a collection of any creepy poems(Edgar Allan Poe, Shakespear I think)but only those that were well known, not written for children halloween silliness.