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Grayscale: Poems
In his compelling new collection, David Huddle writes, “We think / we stand in the vivid color of here and now / and view the past as drab black and white, / whereas the truth is ― it’s our future / that’s the off-center, badly focused grayscale.”
Spiraling between the tenses of time, David Huddle creates in these vibrant poems a defense against the encroachment of age through the resources of language and memory, imagination and art. Moments recollected―and admittedly embellished―from his own life and family seem appealingly a teenage dance, Grandmama’s morning coffee, young daughters playing dolls. With age, wonder has become understanding, and so when intimations of his death arise in the midst of sharing a joke with his children, the poet shows us the comfort and peace that murky prospect may hold. Playful and fantastic narratives about penguin clans, Jane Goodall and the chimps, and what to do when it snaows offer wit and craft as further barriers against pain and despair. “In my family we were /all good at dreaming,” Huddle's closing poem notes. Undaunted, Huddle gives us in Grayscale not false hopes about our lives but a range of ways to transcend their limits.
Spiraling between the tenses of time, David Huddle creates in these vibrant poems a defense against the encroachment of age through the resources of language and memory, imagination and art. Moments recollected―and admittedly embellished―from his own life and family seem appealingly a teenage dance, Grandmama’s morning coffee, young daughters playing dolls. With age, wonder has become understanding, and so when intimations of his death arise in the midst of sharing a joke with his children, the poet shows us the comfort and peace that murky prospect may hold. Playful and fantastic narratives about penguin clans, Jane Goodall and the chimps, and what to do when it snaows offer wit and craft as further barriers against pain and despair. “In my family we were /all good at dreaming,” Huddle's closing poem notes. Undaunted, Huddle gives us in Grayscale not false hopes about our lives but a range of ways to transcend their limits.
- GenresPoetry
56 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2004
8 people want to read
About the author
David Huddle
40 books12 followersDavid Huddle (Born 11 July 1942) is an American multi-genre writer. His poems, essays, and short stories have appeared in Esquire, Harper's Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, Story, The Autumn House Anthology of Poetry, and The Best American Short Stories. His work has also been included in anthologies of writing about the Vietnam War.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 26, 2012
One of my favorite poetry books by my favorite poet. "Natural Pedagogy" makes me laugh out loud every time I read it to my students. They look at me askance afterwards and wonder what devilish things I might have in mind for them! Every time I return to this volume I am rewarded by something new.
November 8, 2009
Huddle, Huddle, Huddle, Hudd! Love him.
February 15, 2014
David Huddle is a wonderful poet and this book is a favorite of mine...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews