Nervous Systems

by William Stobb

Selected for the 2006 National Poetry Series by August Kleinzahler

William Stobb's poems attend calmly to a dynamic world. Nature, family, and friends are among the shifting systems where Stobb finds poems. His fluency in a variety of forms—from the measured tenderness of Jay Meek to the oceanic surrealism of Donald Revell—enacts the tension between order and entropy in the physical world we live in.

"Stobb has nerve, talent, and engages this madly accelerating, and often nearly indecipherable, world in what's called real time," writes August Kleinzahler, "and he manages it without sacrificing emotional truth."

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2007

Reviews

[thatch · Rating 2 out of 5]

nothing crazy striking about this one

[William Stobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of poems I wrote. It was selected for the National Poetry Series by August Kleinzahler. He wrote, "Mr. William Stobb has nerve, talent, and engages this madly accelerating and often nearly indecipherable world in what's called real time. And he manages it without sacrificing emotional force. That's something special." Dean young wrote, "Nervous Systems charts the synaptic leap between peril and joy.... Deep-delved and thrown.... What a generous invitation. How could yo umissit?" And Donald Revell wrote, "There is a trange and elegantly accomplished serenity in the poetry of William Stobb: a serenity of tensions attenuated to their uttermost."

I wrote this book, but I only give it four stars, because I found a type-o in it, and I'm angry about that. Also, I want to be modest. Even though I really like the book, I'm rating it modestly.

[Donald Armfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across William Stobb after catching one of his poems in a themed anthology of Dead and Undead. His poem within in those pages wowed me.

Although this collecting was missing that sting. The opening poem titled "Inside +/- Outside" gave me the seat belt to be strapped in for a ride, but failed to hold me in place. Only two other favorites for me.

-Tower With Beach or Basin
-Poem With Too Many Worlds

[Tracy O]

Liz gave me a copy of this to read........along with Circadian by Joanna Klink.

[Bunnyhoopla]

If Dean likes it then it must be good! (?)

[Emily]

Good afternoon read