46 of 47 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
"We who are so young have neither seen so much..., Jun 5 2005
By Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wild Braid (Hardcover)
Dinitia Smith interviewed Stanley Kunitz and Genine Lentine about this book. Her article appears in the NY Times Book- Review. In this article Kunitz speaks about the making of the book, about poetry, about gardening. The most moving part of the interview was a poem which he read to Smith, a poem written for his wife who died two years ago at the age of ninety- three.
He read the poem to Smith, and she comments in the middle.
Summer is late, my heart.
Words plucked out of the air
some forty years ago
when I was wild with love.
He came to the poem's haunting conclusion:
Darling, do you remember
the man you married? Touch me,
remind me who I am.
I was moved by the poem.
It is also moving to think of someone reaching one - hundred years of age, and still writing poetry.
Kunitz says that he understands the necessity of death as the world would become just ' old wrecks' were everyone to go on without end.
He speaks as Borges does of wanting to become 'language' or ' part of the language'.
Aside from the poetry I believe many people will want to possess this book simply because it in some way represents a triumph of the human spirit and will.
"We who are so young, have neither seen so much, nor lived so long."
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Book on Kunitz's Crown, Oct 14 2005
By Juan Mobili - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wild Braid (Hardcover)
Stanley Kunitz is one hundred years old this year and, if that it's not enough reason to rejoice, he's also published a book, thoughtfuy aided by Genine Lentine, in which he shares his two loves, gardening and writing poetry. And if I name these two passions of Kunitz's in such order is because the garden is at the center of his thought here.
Accompanied by interesting photographs -some are remarkable portraits of Stanley- Kunitz words tell the story of his legendary Provincetown garden, and in the process he offers those lessons to his poetic insight.
The result is a brief book of love for craft, in this case what caring after trees teaches you and what writing a poem entails and demands from his maker.
I'm honored and elated to be reading some new words from such wise elder of the poetic word.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great gift for any parent or gardener!, July 25 2005
By J. Torrentz - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wild Braid (Hardcover)
I was back "home" with my folks this weekend and my dad really has been enjoying this book (shipped to him for Father's Day)as well. Mr. Kunitz reflections on his amazing life experience are outstanding. I fell in love with the book as well. Definitely give it 5 stars. Enjoy :)