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Asked What Has Changed
Finalist for Griffin International Poetry Prize, given by The Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry, 2022
Award-winning poet Ed Roberson confronts the realities of an era in which the fate of humanity and the very survival of our planet are uncertain. Departing from the traditional nature poem, Roberson's work reclaims a much older tradition, drawing into poetry's orbit what the physical and human sciences reveal about the state of a changing world. These poems test how far the lyric can go as an answer to our crisis, even calling into question poetic form itself. Reflections on the natural world and moments of personal interiority are interwoven with images of urbanscapes, environmental crises, and political instabilities. These poems speak life and truth to modernity in all its complexity. Throughout, Roberson takes up the ancient spiritual concern—the ephemerality of life—and gives us a new language to process the feeling of living in a century on the brink.
Morello's Venice startled to hear the doctor saythis would be the last time he would see it,a person used to keeping things alivetalking terminus — even more startled when he returnedto hear him say it wasn't therethere were terrible rainsbookings cancelled. when late he arrived,everything was gone.his wife had a cold. they bundled together in blankets.he refilled my prescription torestore my soul.
Award-winning poet Ed Roberson confronts the realities of an era in which the fate of humanity and the very survival of our planet are uncertain. Departing from the traditional nature poem, Roberson's work reclaims a much older tradition, drawing into poetry's orbit what the physical and human sciences reveal about the state of a changing world. These poems test how far the lyric can go as an answer to our crisis, even calling into question poetic form itself. Reflections on the natural world and moments of personal interiority are interwoven with images of urbanscapes, environmental crises, and political instabilities. These poems speak life and truth to modernity in all its complexity. Throughout, Roberson takes up the ancient spiritual concern—the ephemerality of life—and gives us a new language to process the feeling of living in a century on the brink.
Morello's Venice startled to hear the doctor saythis would be the last time he would see it,a person used to keeping things alivetalking terminus — even more startled when he returnedto hear him say it wasn't therethere were terrible rainsbookings cancelled. when late he arrived,everything was gone.his wife had a cold. they bundled together in blankets.he refilled my prescription torestore my soul.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2021
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About the author
Ed Roberson
25 books13 followersCharles Edwin (Ed) Roberson is a distinguished American poet, celebrated for his unique diction and intricacy in exploring the natural and cultural worlds. His poetic voice is informed by a background in science and visual art, coupled with his identity as an African American. Roberson has been an active poet since the early 1960s and has authored eight collections, including "Atmosphere Conditions" (1999) and "City Eclogue" (2006). Among his many honors are the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Writers' Award (1998) and the Poetry Society of America's Shelley Memorial Award (2008).
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