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Crossing State Lines: An American Renga
A collaborative poem about America, from fifty-four of our best poets
Crossing State Lines : An American Renga is a poetic relay race across the fifty-four poets responding to ideas of America―and to each other. This is a collaborative journey of impressions―from the election and inauguration of President Obama, through foreclosures, job losses, chords of country music, and bombs in Baghdad, to a poet-soldier's rifle-sight in Afghanistan. The renga itself, in the ancient tradition of Japanese linked verse, provides the form of this historic conversation among the poets, as they meditate, within ten lines, on a moment in America. Crossing State Lines begins with Robert Pinsky's recounting of a line of poetry by Lincoln as fall deepens and "maples / kindle in the East," and ends some five hundred lines later, with Robert Hass's "greeny April" on the Pacific coast. All proceeds from sales go to Now and Here.
Crossing State Lines : An American Renga is a poetic relay race across the fifty-four poets responding to ideas of America―and to each other. This is a collaborative journey of impressions―from the election and inauguration of President Obama, through foreclosures, job losses, chords of country music, and bombs in Baghdad, to a poet-soldier's rifle-sight in Afghanistan. The renga itself, in the ancient tradition of Japanese linked verse, provides the form of this historic conversation among the poets, as they meditate, within ten lines, on a moment in America. Crossing State Lines begins with Robert Pinsky's recounting of a line of poetry by Lincoln as fall deepens and "maples / kindle in the East," and ends some five hundred lines later, with Robert Hass's "greeny April" on the Pacific coast. All proceeds from sales go to Now and Here.
- GenresPoetry21st Century
80 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2011
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Bob Holman
17 booksBob Holman is an American poet and poetry activist, most closely identified with the oral tradition, the spoken word, and poetry slam. As a promoter of poetry in many media, Holman has spent the last four decades working variously as an author, editor, publisher, performer, emcee of live events, director of theatrical productions, producer of films and television programs, record label executive, university professor, and archivist.
[With thanks to Wikipedia]
[With thanks to Wikipedia]
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 27, 2023
Stunning. This Renga features so many different poetic styles, each piece was so beautiful and helped the work as a whole evolve into something indescribable. Hard to pick a favorite piece, but I loved the contributions of David Baker, Vijay Seshadri, Jordie Graham, Grace Schulman, and Carol Muske- Dukes.
March 28, 2011
I've just read an amazing book.
(Good. I see you streaming in.
Lots of you.
You want to know what I've reading
that is so amazing, right?)
It's a book of poetry.
(Well, that did it.
Cleared the room with one word.)
Wait. Stop. Give me one more minute of your time.
(Thank you for stopping,
even if you are standing at the open door.)
The book is called Crossing State Lines: An American Renga.
A renga is an old Japanese poetic form.
You know haiku?
A renga is similar to a haiku,
only it is done collaboratively.
(Are you still there? One more minute.)
This book is a collaborative effort of fifty-four of
America's greatest living poets.
Everybody is here...Robert Pinsky...Billy Collins...
Adrienne Rich...Edward Hirsch...David Lehman...Rita Dove...
(If you've waited this long, let me reward you with a taste.)
"We're not them,"
the man at Verizon
Help Desk says.
"Okay," I say, "who is 'them'?"
"There is no 'them,'" he says.
Epiphany. A sign
outside Prince Realty:
Need Help? Inquire Within.
All the dry stiff Christmas trees
tip to trunk along the curb.
(So what do you think? she asks, a little too eagerly.
Like it?
If you are rubbing your head in confusion,
read it one more time.
Remember: Poetry isn't a McDonald's hamburger.
If you liked this little part,
just imagine a whole book of it.
And all of it linked together.
And written by some brilliant poets.
If you've left the room
or if you've stayed, but you are still rubbing your head,
that's okay, too.
Just promise me you'll try a bite or two of poetry
on another day.
Think of poetry like snails.
You've got to take it in small nibbles.
And you ain't gonna hear anyone say it tastes like chicken.
Stop thinking that you are eating snails;
just enjoy the incredible taste.)
Thank you to publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux for sharing this advanced reader copy with me.
(Good. I see you streaming in.
Lots of you.
You want to know what I've reading
that is so amazing, right?)
It's a book of poetry.
(Well, that did it.
Cleared the room with one word.)
Wait. Stop. Give me one more minute of your time.
(Thank you for stopping,
even if you are standing at the open door.)
The book is called Crossing State Lines: An American Renga.
A renga is an old Japanese poetic form.
You know haiku?
A renga is similar to a haiku,
only it is done collaboratively.
(Are you still there? One more minute.)
This book is a collaborative effort of fifty-four of
America's greatest living poets.
Everybody is here...Robert Pinsky...Billy Collins...
Adrienne Rich...Edward Hirsch...David Lehman...Rita Dove...
(If you've waited this long, let me reward you with a taste.)
"We're not them,"
the man at Verizon
Help Desk says.
"Okay," I say, "who is 'them'?"
"There is no 'them,'" he says.
Epiphany. A sign
outside Prince Realty:
Need Help? Inquire Within.
All the dry stiff Christmas trees
tip to trunk along the curb.
(So what do you think? she asks, a little too eagerly.
Like it?
If you are rubbing your head in confusion,
read it one more time.
Remember: Poetry isn't a McDonald's hamburger.
If you liked this little part,
just imagine a whole book of it.
And all of it linked together.
And written by some brilliant poets.
If you've left the room
or if you've stayed, but you are still rubbing your head,
that's okay, too.
Just promise me you'll try a bite or two of poetry
on another day.
Think of poetry like snails.
You've got to take it in small nibbles.
And you ain't gonna hear anyone say it tastes like chicken.
Stop thinking that you are eating snails;
just enjoy the incredible taste.)
Thank you to publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux for sharing this advanced reader copy with me.
April 4, 2011
I would like to humbly thank Goodreads for providing me a copy of this book. With that said, renga is a genre of Japanese collaborative poetry which gave rise to the modern haiku style of poetry. The writers of this book have decided to use this collaborative form of poetry to compose a single book of 54 poems each written by a separate poet.
Because these poems are meant to make up one single collaborative poem, all 54 poems should be read in one shot. Each poem reads as a response to the preceding poem. The introduction even states that each poet was given about two days at the most to write his or her response (except, of course, the poet who started the conversation) to the previous poem. Although each poet's style differs from the last, the poem as a whole flows well right to the end.
If you are discouraged to read this book because you don't really care for poetry, you should still give it a chance. After all, the poems read like an artistic ongoing discussion causing you to forget the fact that you're reading poetry. I am not a big poetry reader myself, but I applaud the contributors of this book for creating a unique artistic conversation about the ideas and issues of America.
Because these poems are meant to make up one single collaborative poem, all 54 poems should be read in one shot. Each poem reads as a response to the preceding poem. The introduction even states that each poet was given about two days at the most to write his or her response (except, of course, the poet who started the conversation) to the previous poem. Although each poet's style differs from the last, the poem as a whole flows well right to the end.
If you are discouraged to read this book because you don't really care for poetry, you should still give it a chance. After all, the poems read like an artistic ongoing discussion causing you to forget the fact that you're reading poetry. I am not a big poetry reader myself, but I applaud the contributors of this book for creating a unique artistic conversation about the ideas and issues of America.
March 30, 2011
I recieved this book through the goodreads first-reads giveaway and I absolutely loved it.
I liked the concept of having such a large collaboration effort and knew that it would either crash and burn or turn out wonderful. Luckily, the latter was the case. Most of the poets were new to me and I was more than happy to be exposed to them. There were a few which I was ecstatic to see (Beau Sia). Although there were a few poems which didn't transition into one another all that well most of them went through rather smoothly. There were moments during which I'd forget that it was more than one person's work. What I loved the most about this book is that it has a few poems which really get a grip on my heart. Although I breezed through most of the poems with a simple appreciation for them the ones that really effected me always came as a welcomed surprise. I feel that all of the poets within the pages of Crossing State Lines are incredibly talented and deserve to be read over and over.
I liked the concept of having such a large collaboration effort and knew that it would either crash and burn or turn out wonderful. Luckily, the latter was the case. Most of the poets were new to me and I was more than happy to be exposed to them. There were a few which I was ecstatic to see (Beau Sia). Although there were a few poems which didn't transition into one another all that well most of them went through rather smoothly. There were moments during which I'd forget that it was more than one person's work. What I loved the most about this book is that it has a few poems which really get a grip on my heart. Although I breezed through most of the poems with a simple appreciation for them the ones that really effected me always came as a welcomed surprise. I feel that all of the poets within the pages of Crossing State Lines are incredibly talented and deserve to be read over and over.
April 24, 2011
A renga of 54 poems composed by 54 American poets - what an amazing tour of America. It had been awhile since I'd ready poetry, but this was so very enjoyable. At times, I was the eavesdropper on a poetic conversation, the voices identifying particularities of America and Americans, but sometimes it was simply the essence, the feeling, the "American-ness" of it all. The formal renga form alternates between a three-line stanza and a two-line stanza for a total of ten stanzas. Most of the poets followed this form, but as a good cross-section of Americans would reveal, there were a few who bucked the rules. Well worth a Sunday afternoon reading, perhaps aloud among friends.
April 28, 2011
I received this book in a first reads giveaway.
I really enjoyed reading the poems. Told in the ancient tradition of Japanese linked verse, the poems bring out the feeling of collaboration, uniting the states in this renga. The idea of crossing state lines is further developed through the lack of individual titles for the poems. I hadn't read the works of many of these poets, and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read their works. They are all talented. I know that I'll be sharing my book with friends and family!
I really enjoyed reading the poems. Told in the ancient tradition of Japanese linked verse, the poems bring out the feeling of collaboration, uniting the states in this renga. The idea of crossing state lines is further developed through the lack of individual titles for the poems. I hadn't read the works of many of these poets, and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read their works. They are all talented. I know that I'll be sharing my book with friends and family!
November 5, 2011
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
It is a collection of 54 poems, but while the author of each poem is clearly labeled, none of the poems has a individual title. This contributes to the overall feel of a single "collaborative poem." Furthermore, the poems' content - an homage of sorts to the people and geography - lends continuity to the overall work.
A beautiful book. Highly recommended.
It is a collection of 54 poems, but while the author of each poem is clearly labeled, none of the poems has a individual title. This contributes to the overall feel of a single "collaborative poem." Furthermore, the poems' content - an homage of sorts to the people and geography - lends continuity to the overall work.
A beautiful book. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2017
3.5 stars
Read
January 8, 2012Violence–whether man-made or natural–seems to be escalating by the day. Haiti. Egypt. Japan. Libya. The death of Bin Laden and the rumored threats of planned terrorist attacks on the anniversary of 9/11. Syria. And if school’s mostly out for the summer, further incident after incident of campus violence, this time misogynistic in nature, was reported http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-m... and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-m... by Carol Muske-Dukes. How many more will occur before they lose their shock value? Not before Nobel laureates such V. S. Naipaul, already known as a wife- and mistress-beater, ceases pronouncements on the inferiority of women writers–yes, including Jane Austen, who documented 18th century life in England from a female point of view certainly as well as Naipaul has in various travel writings. She saw the limitations imposed on her gender’s existence as anyone possibly could in the first sentence of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and the Bronte sisters raged on after her, if in colder climes that killed them with TB.
Muske-Dukes–another poet/teacher/journalist/novelist/memoirist–has not only recently published a new solo effort, TWIN CITIES (Penguin Poets Series) but also joined forces with Bob Holman, resulting in the delightful CROSSING STATE LINES: AN AMERICAN RENGA. But some lines should never be crossed; and pray for those who venture into genuine hearts of darkness or protest violence of any type in the best way they–and I–know how: through words, like Khaled Mattawa, who informed me of a reading for the Libyan victims of rape and murder, which remain, as the first three sections of “Crossings” should make clear, just a shot away — threatened or fired — in alien territory or at home.
Muske-Dukes–another poet/teacher/journalist/novelist/memoirist–has not only recently published a new solo effort, TWIN CITIES (Penguin Poets Series) but also joined forces with Bob Holman, resulting in the delightful CROSSING STATE LINES: AN AMERICAN RENGA. But some lines should never be crossed; and pray for those who venture into genuine hearts of darkness or protest violence of any type in the best way they–and I–know how: through words, like Khaled Mattawa, who informed me of a reading for the Libyan victims of rape and murder, which remain, as the first three sections of “Crossings” should make clear, just a shot away — threatened or fired — in alien territory or at home.
April 24, 2011
I won this book through a GoodReads giveaway, it just showed up in the mail from the publisher. At first glance, it looked wonderful!! When I was able to sit down and spend time with it, it turns out to be truly wonderful, hard to put it down. It's one long poem written in turn by different American poets. It's lovely, sad, hopeful, disappointed, scary, and all together a great representation of our country, our dreams and our fears and our hopes. I love it, and will likely buy copies to give away for Christmas/Chanukah 2011. Thank you GoodReads and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux!!!!
January 16, 2016
This is one of my favorite rengas ever written. The American renga is absolutely a must-read. What I admire the most in this book is C.K. Williams' poem. The idea of writing a poem with other poets is the basic concept of this book. Fifty four poets share ten lines or less in a renga about the idea of America. Some write politically, philosophically and in a pastoral way. Reading it as a whole made me want to turn the pages on and on but I was aghast when I finished it. It leaves me wanting for more. I hope there would be another American renga like this.
May 30, 2011
I started listening to the Renga down at the American Now and Here exhibit in KC. It's an amazing poem...and while I like poetry...I don't love it. I really like this.
I bought it for my son and I'm going to finish it before I have to take it to him in June. But I may have to buy another copy if I continue to like it so much.
I wish I understood poetry better. I didn't get much of these...but the ones I could understand, I liked.
I bought it for my son and I'm going to finish it before I have to take it to him in June. But I may have to buy another copy if I continue to like it so much.
I wish I understood poetry better. I didn't get much of these...but the ones I could understand, I liked.
June 26, 2011
Do Not Read the Introduction! (Unless you want the fun of what follows leaked and dribbled all over your lap, dear god make such introduction illegal.)
Jump right in and enjoy the fine eyes and ears of these fine Americans and the bounce bounce of verses as they crisscross the country.
A great idea, this. And pleasingly threaded, so that we get a smart portrait of America in the fall of 2009 and winter of 2010 (when we were so keenly aware of ourselves as America).
Jump right in and enjoy the fine eyes and ears of these fine Americans and the bounce bounce of verses as they crisscross the country.
A great idea, this. And pleasingly threaded, so that we get a smart portrait of America in the fall of 2009 and winter of 2010 (when we were so keenly aware of ourselves as America).
Want to Read
March 22, 2011I have just won this book from First Reads. I look forward to reading it. Thanks.
November 10, 2015
Collaborative poetry done quite nicely.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews