After Greece

by Christopher Bakken

This collection is winner of the 2001 T S Eliot prize. An account of travel and a collection of ecstatic lyrics, these poems excavate an idea of place, one layered deep for the poet and archaeologist to discover. We encounter the obsessions of a hellenic barbarian - of an American poet residing in, not touring, an environment haunted by profane revelations and sacred commonplaces. We move beyond the crowded sites and restored monuments, to places where the presence of the ancient world is still palpable in the violent realities of the modern Balkans. Looking through these poems into artefacts and ruined places, we hear 'spirits of that barren landscape call out still', and we feel, again and again, what connects us to the past is stronger than what separates us from it.

Genres: Poetry

62 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection that captures the ineffable spirit of Greece through sharp observation, livewire language, and a wanderer's joy.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these poems - their longing for place and time and memory. This collection is fiercely attached to Greece and the profound effect the country can have on a visitor.

"And to return, you knew--why else travel?

Something draws me back to land again,
to Delphi, three whole days with the Charioteer,
who starts, following his invisible reins

far beyond the mystery of these brief years
I cling to with half of me already gone,
the other half stalled, delirious with fear."

[Kasie Cavanagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Greece
☕☕☕☕ 4 Cups of Coffee

Favorite Quotes

• “Founding of fires, unwilling to speak, you make along with us, companion carbon, a common corporation of dust.”

• “Warships never bother with us. No books are read or burned. Newspapers contain no facts. Without such threats as these, it's hard to think.”

I found this little gem at the Colgate University bookstore, and honestly my mom is the one who encouraged me to pick it up. Good call, Mom.

This is only my second poetry collection, and I’m discovering that I enjoy poetry way more than I expected. Poetry forces your brain to move differently. It’s not just reading. It’s thinking sideways, thinking laterally, sometimes even thinking in a completely different frequency or universe.

This collection felt fascinating, whimsical, and a little dark all at the same time. It really reads like stepping inside a poet’s mind. I especially appreciated how the poet mixed historical references and philosophical ideas into the verses. It gave the poems depth without feeling heavy.

Overall it felt like a journey through imagination, history, and thought, and it definitely made me want to explore more poetry.

If you're poetry-curious like I was, this is a thoughtful little place to start. ☕📖✨

[Etola]

Chris Bakken was an English professor at my alma mater, and I had the pleasure of attending two of his readings featuring poems from this work.