ON DREAM STREET

by Melanie Almeder

This is flawless poetry from a fearless poet with perfect pitch, whether she is writing whimsy or elegy. Melanie Almeder's poems span myriad locales and themes without ever losing sight of the author's to enlighten, arouse, irk, and amuse. She is graceful and musical as she spins an ""Ode to Peterson's Guide to Birds,"" and yet profoundly articulate as she intuits language from the paintings of Chagall-this, in a thoughtful and distinctive series of poems concerning eminent works of painting and photography. Contemporary philosophy, autobiography, and the landscapes of Florida and Maine are all rendered between these pages, but there is an underlying unity and wisdom to her vision that will manipulate, surprise, and edify her readers as they are led into her lyrically rich yet subtly nuanced landscapes. A singular debut from a compellingly inventive new voice that cannot, and will not, be ignored.

Genres: Poetry

74 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Heather Gibbons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous. Too much ekphrasis in here, but still-- one of the better prize-winning first poetry books I've read in awhile.