Ledge : Poems

by Collier, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780618219100
• ISBN10: 0618219102
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-17
• Publisher: Lightning Source Inc

Summary

Michael Collier's much acclaimed fourth collection of poetry poises experience on the ledge between the everyday and the unknown. In THE LEDGE, the poems are narrative and colloquial, musical and crystalline, at once intimate and sharp-edged. The world is rendered beautifully mysterious as the poems slide into unexpected emotional territory. The artistry and directness of THE LEDGE confirm Collier's place among the most significant poets of his generation.

Author Biography

Michael Collier has been the director of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference for five years and has taught English at the University of Maryland, College Park, for fifteen years. His previous volumes of poetry are THE CLASP AND OTHER POEMS, THE FOLDED HEART, THE NEIGHBOR, and most recently THE LEDGE, finalist for the Los Angeles Times Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Collier is the recipient of a Guggenheim fellowship, NEA fellowships, and the Discovery/The Nation Award, among other honors. He resides in Maryland.

Table of Contents

I
Argos	3	(2)
Safe	5	(2)
Ghazal	7	(1)
My Crucifixion	8	(1)
Moon Valley Country Club	9	(1)
A Last Supper	10	(2)
The Word	12	(2)
The Snake	14	(1)
The New Possum	15	(1)
The Hammer	16	(5)
II
A Real-Life Drama	21	(1)
The Swimmer	22	(2)
The Farrier	24	(1)
The Choice	25	(2)
Christmas Train Park At the Arbutus Firehouse	27	(2)
The Lessons	29	(2)
Catbird	31	(1)
All Souls	32	(2)
Time To Move	34	(2)
A Remainder	36	(2)
The Wave	38	(2)
Brave Sparrow	40	(5)
III
Pay-Per-View	45	(2)
Cerberus	47	(1)
Swans	48	(1)
Hummingbird Aviary	49	(1)
Ghazal of the Sahara	50	(1)
Long Summer	51	(1)
Fathom and League	52	(2)
The Blame	54	(1)
An Awful Story	55	(1)
All Darkness	56	(1)
The Dolphin	57	(2)
Keats and Francesca	59	(1)
Pax Geologica	60