The Cloud of Knowable Things

by Elaine Equi, Becket Logan (Photographer), Vik Muñiz (Artist)

"Friend to objects, saints and dead celebrities alike, Elaine Equi is the real a keeper of the sacred flame of language-joy. Her work re-alerts us to our earliest love of words as toys, jewels, confections. In doing so she juices up our thinking. What’s better than writing that delights as it sharpens the mind? You’ve heard of ‘smart drinks’ or ‘smart drugs,’ said to chemically boost intellect? These are truly smart poems."—Amy Gerstler, L.A. Weekly Elaine Equi is the author of many books, including Voice-Over , which won the San Francisco State Poetry Award. Widely anthologized, her poems appear in Postmodern American A Norton Anthology and The Best American Poetry for the years 1989, 1995, and 2002. She lives in New York City.

Genres: Poetry

100 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Benjamin Niespodziany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second collection I've read by Equi and I continue to be impressed. I could read her poetry forever. Can't wait for her new one around the corner. Until then, it's on to the next one: Click and Clone (2011)!

[Jeff T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equi does many things in her poems, but their most consistent quality is a friendliness. Always, there is an undercurrent of acuity; just as a riptide intermittently makes a floating body heavier, so do Equi's poems sail and bounce and play at the surface of a great depth. Read this book, and you'll end up tugging at your neighbor's trunks.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nearly perfect collection of poetry. Elaine Equi makes me want to be a better writer. She communicates the world from a unique and beautiful perspective. There were a few pieces I didn't like, but on the whole one of the best books of poetry I have read in a long time.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm VERY picky when it comes to the "avante garde," but I do like Equi's work.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wit and intelligence make this book very likeable. It has its moments but I'm still on the fence with this poet. I want to read EE's others books now to see whether I like them better.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compact poems, mostly practical, daily life, with a touch of the mystical.
OUT OF THE CLOUD CHAMBER
and into the street