
Riffraff
Poems
Stephen Cushman(Author)
Louisiana State University Press
Published on 28. February 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
80 pages
978-0-8071-3760-4 (ISBN)
Description
Stephen Cushman's Riffraff embodies the spirit of its title, a Middle English word for ""every particle"" or ""things of small value."" In this striking collection, scraps of the overlooked, and distasteful -- a prostitute passed in the street, the speaker's own forgotten dreams, toothless dogs rolling in deer offal -- become occasions to meditate on the rich experiences from which we too often turn away.
The poems reflect on the possibilities of language, the natural world, politics, history, eros, aging, family, and spiritual devotion. Without pretension, Cushman values ""adepts who can dwell in the kiosk of a kiss."" Skillfully, he transmutes his own curiosity and surprise into moments of shared instruction. ""Keep low,"" he whispers. ""Stay put. / Learn from the leaves.""
Riffraff culls what we have discarded, saves from abandonment the notions we have taken for granted, and, indeed, venerates every particle.
The poems reflect on the possibilities of language, the natural world, politics, history, eros, aging, family, and spiritual devotion. Without pretension, Cushman values ""adepts who can dwell in the kiosk of a kiss."" Skillfully, he transmutes his own curiosity and surprise into moments of shared instruction. ""Keep low,"" he whispers. ""Stay put. / Learn from the leaves.""
Riffraff culls what we have discarded, saves from abandonment the notions we have taken for granted, and, indeed, venerates every particle.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Baton Rouge
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight
114 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8071-3760-4 (9780807137604)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Person
Stephen Cushman is the author of the poetry collections Cussing Lesson and Blue Pajamas and the nonfiction book Bloody Promenade: Reflections on a Civil War Battle. He is Robert C. Taylor Professor of English at the University of Virginia.

