The Poems, 1928-1978

by Stanley Kunitz

Introducing twenty new poems and bringing together works from previous volumes, this collection of 150 poems, arranged in reverse chronological order, represents a half century of work by the distinguished contemporary poet

Genres: Poetry

249 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Stanley Jasspon Kunitz was an American poet. He was appointed Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress twice, first in 1974 and then again in 2000.

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read of great poetry. My particular copy is signed by Kunitz himself addressed to a previous owner. It reads "For Dick [illegible] With apologies and many thanks - Stanley Kunitz, Adelphi [?] 4/12/80". I'm assuming the apology was for the illegible last name, as he seems to have tried to rewrite it.
Putting his work in reverse chronological order, Kunitz's book adds some interesting insight into the change of his style throughout the years along side of his great and variant poetry. Good for fans of more modern and more classic poetry alike, though it doesn't strictly go to far in either direction. Glad I read it for sure, and I highly recommend it.

[Humphrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though there are only 15 new poems here, I find them a substantial improvement over the preceding volume, The Testing Tree. "Signs and Portents" has 4 strong sections spoiled by an overbasted 5th and final (a perennial Kunitz problem). From this point on, though. nearly everything is quite good: The Lincoln Relics, The Quarrel, The Unquiet Ones, My Sisters, Route Six, and of course the truly excellent "The Layers."

[Cody Stetzel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Kunitz' style was a bit off-putting for me at times, but I enjoyed the poems from "Passport to War," and thought "The Testing Tree," showed great willingness to change.