Firekeeper: New and Selected Poems

by Pattiann Rogers

Introduces twenty-seven new poems by the author, plus a sampling of previous works, treating such subject matter as idle curiosity, religion, and death

Genres: Poetry

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Ambrose Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Thick" poetry. There is a lot of information in each poem. This book is meant to be read slowly. Had I done that perhaps my rating would have been higher. Taken in bunches the poems had a lots of sameness.

[Chris LaTray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even spread out over a few weeks, reading only a handful of poems each day, this one was a bit of a slog. The poems are dense, all of a similar length and running, to my preference, a bit long. There is no questioning Rogers' intellect and regard for the world, I'm probably just a little too simple to really grasp a lot of what she handles so well. Still, several poems really struck me, so I'm happy to have taken the time with this one.

[Lisa Folkmire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best imagery/movement that I've seen. Very scientific in all the right ways.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

The densely populated poems in Pattiann Rogers’ Firekeeper were difficult for me to appreciate at first. The poet uses her extensive knowledge of botany and physics to create fresh images around universal themes such as sex, religion, parenting, social class, aging and death. Reading them as a whole, I felt they became a bit repetitive, since she almost exclusively uses metaphors and images from the natural world to explore her themes. However, several poems, especially in the section “New Poems: Old Spiral of Conception,” did work for me because of their unique vision of our relationship to nature and what we can learn from observing the world around us.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pattiann Rogers basically has one major formula that is sort of derived from Elizabeth Bishop which she varies a little but generally sticks to, which is to ponder something- either a philosophical/theological concept or a surreal image- and then bounce around a little for 3-5 stanzas comparing bits and pieces of it to lush and dense natural imagery, before landing back on a stanza that usually leaves a sort of sublime and lingering aporia at the end. Still, the execution of this formula is top notch and there's a lot for poets or writers to study in her style in terms of how to create unique and highly specific imagery with delicate music. One also senses the woman is inordinately horny.

[David Anthony Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this selection of poems published between 1981 and 1994, Pattiann Rogers reveals the beatification of the natural world and the seer of that world in the interaction of observer and observed. Yes she is more comfortable with science than most contemporary poets who pretend that there is a great divide in the beauty witnessed by both. Rogers knows better as she invests the natural world with love and lust and fills her rooms and her very body with the universe. Her language has a clarity that is not simple and a simplicity that is not flaccid. I recommend her work for those who love great poetry, who love the natural world, and who want to see someone mend the tears we have made in ourselves and between ourselves and our universe.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading Firekeeper this week. Finding lots to love. I've decided to describe it as word-rich, dense in details of the natural world. Read this collection probably 15 years ago but must have grown sinc4 then because I like iot even better now. Love the poem "The Power of Toads" and also "For the Wren Trapped in the Cathedral".

[Amy Kitchell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the poem "When at Night" which I found about six years ago. But the bottom line is that was about the only poem I liked in this entire book...sad really because that one poem is one of my all time favorite poems.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of poems grounded in science and preciseness. It goes to show just how beautiful and mysterious life can remain even when you use the most proper, most 'perfect' names for it. Perfect for the person who loves both poetry and science, or politics and philosophy.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of my favorites.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic poet. The poem The Next Story really struck a cord with me as a parent.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich sensuous poems.