When a Woman Loves a Man: Poems

by David Lehman

This collection of poems from the series editor of The Best American Poetry and the editor of The Oxford Book of American Poetry seamlessly captures the romance, irony, and pathos of love.

David Lehman movingly chronicles the days in post-9/11 New York and bring a fresh perspective to an array of subjects -- from the Brooklyn Bridge to Gertrude Stein to Buddhism.

The work of a poet at the height of his lyrical and reflective powers, When a Woman Loves a Man is playful, inventive, and as amusing as it is clever.

Genres: Poetry

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

David Lehman is a poet and the series editor for The Best American Poetry series. He teaches at The New School in New York City.

Reviews

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I read the title poem I was 18 and immediately felt like celebrating. The poem was an epiphany for me and I've never forgotten how much it meant to me--and continues to mean. Lehman uses simple, straight-forward language that perfectly illustrates the strangeness and mystery of love. The title poem ended up being my favorite from this collection, though there were some other notable poems in this collection. I admire his poetry, but also the fact that he created the Best American Poetry series back in the '90s--a series I always look forward to each year.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading The Evening Sun and now this book, my impression is that David Lehman is so famous—as famous as a contemporary poet can be, anyways—that he can get away with publishing anything. I still respect him for being the creator and editor of Best American Poetry, but his own works are tedious and uninspiring. Maybe his earlier works were better but I haven't been impressed by what I've read. At his best, he can write original metaphors ("The frogs sound like the string section/of the orchestra warming up" from "When a Woman Loves a Man," p.9). At worst, he comes up with horrible rhymes ("martini"/"destiny," "sax"/"sex," "you"/"you" from "Song," p. 117).

The one thing that I admire about When a Woman Loves a Man is Lehman's dedication to and experimentation with formal poetry. There are many sestinas and pantoums, a villanelle that's also a lipogram("Wystan Hugh Auden: A Villanelle")!!!, a few takes on abecedarian, a poem composed of forty four rhetorical questions ("Denmark: A Tragedy"), a poem that uses only four words in different combinations ("Denial"). Unfortunately, the sestinas and pantoums are unenjoyable to read; sure, they're technically good but the repetition inherent to these forms makes for boring poems. His writing in general is unremarkable:

. . . Every third sentence began "To be honest
with you," suggesting a general rule of falsehood.
The past was a hotel. The room was empty. The door
was open. He stepped in the door. There was no door.

(from "The Magician," p. 21)


Money is to shit as guilt is to shame
as the sentence is to the word.
Is that understood? It's been a pleasure
to serve you, said the Commissioner of Guilt.

(from "The Old Constellation," p. 38)


I'm sorry to have to ask you this.
How do you write when you have nothing to say?
(When I said "you," I meant "one." Is that okay?)
What do you think of psychoanalysis?

(from "Questions to Ask for a Paris Review Interview," p. 60)

What goes around comes around.
I made up that phrase this morning.
Do you like it? Would you like to use it?
Be my guest. Help yourself.
You can have your cake and eat it, too.
You get the best of both worlds,
six of one and half a dozen of the other.

(from "One Day at a Time," p. 72)

Poems that I liked:
"Denial," "Travel Notes," "Venice is Sinking," "The Code of Napoleon" (part 9 only).

=4/63 (6.3%) poems that I liked.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is brilliant, so full of joy and brio one wants to holler from the rooftop. Witty and clever and language-besotted. Read "Party of Ideas" for just one example of the fine high-wire act Lehman is able to walk. This is the first I've read by him but it won't be the last.

[Rich · Rating 1 out of 5]

Derivative and self indulgent.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea I guess.
Skipped around a ton. No real flow to anything

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...my first experience with David Lehman. Loved it.