Creature
Will be published approx. on 1. September 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
112 pages
978-1-84471-028-7 (ISBN)
Description
These poems function as experiments in epistemology. Attentive to the ways that sensory experiences coalesce into cognition and the ways cognition remains always thoroughly sensory, these poems experiment with the complex ways in which being in the world means thinking with one's whole body. By occupying a variety of shifting subject positions, making use of various forms (both traditional and nonce forms), and engaging both explicitly and implicitly with texts from various traditions, these poems seek to address the cognitive, spiritual and erotic experiences, longings and desires that come with living in the material world.
These concerns come into especially intense focus in the Creature poems. While the Creature is as human as anyone else, he has certain misgivings about the old term 'human,' especially insofar as it is associated with hierarchical notions of human domination that can sometimes slide into abuse. The Creature poems explore the subject's continuity with the world, including the world of artifice and technology. The Creature longs for a deeper connection to the world and to the divine, though he can experience great confusion about where to find either. The Creature is also thoroughly textual, and he longs for a new language in terms of which he can more truly live.
These concerns come into especially intense focus in the Creature poems. While the Creature is as human as anyone else, he has certain misgivings about the old term 'human,' especially insofar as it is associated with hierarchical notions of human domination that can sometimes slide into abuse. The Creature poems explore the subject's continuity with the world, including the world of artifice and technology. The Creature longs for a deeper connection to the world and to the divine, though he can experience great confusion about where to find either. The Creature is also thoroughly textual, and he longs for a new language in terms of which he can more truly live.
Reviews / Votes
Jerry Harp's dreamscape poems are sturdier than they first appear, a pleasing series of contemplations of the millennial aesthetique du mal. Time after time, it is the tension between panic and good manners that he manages to make dramatic and attractive. A very impressive first collection! -- David R. Slavitt Let the new poet discover all at once his true subject and he will begin writing easily and very well. Jerry Harp is not the only poet to have had such luck, but so far as I know, he may well be the latest. -- Donald JusticeMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
US School Grade: From Third Grade to Eleventh Grade, Interest Age: From 13 to 21 years
Illustrations
Not illustrated
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 7 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84471-028-7 (9781844710287)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jerry Harp grew up in Mt. Vernon, Indiana (U.S.A.). He has degrees from Saint Meinrad College (B.A.), Saint Louis University (M.A.), the University of Florida (M.F.A.), and the University of Iowa (2002). His books of poetry include Creature (Salt Publishing, 2003) and Gatherings (Ashland Poetry Press, 2004). He co-edited, with Jan Weissmiller, A Poetry Criticism Reader (University of Iowa Press, 2006). His reviews appear regularly in Pleiades. He teaches at Lewis & Clark College.
Content
1 Their Solitary Way
The Millennium Turning
To the Reader
Our Host Confused
'Evening Faces'
History
Plato's House
Summer
Traveler
What is Found
'Why Not Be Totally Changed into Fire?'
Such Blessing
'Their Solitary Way'
The Operation
Roughening
2 A Man Who Was Afraid of Language
A Man Who Was Afraid of Language
The Monastery Gate
A Priest I Once
What Was to Happen Already Occurred
Drifting
Summer Work
What is Revealed
Harold Graves Considers the Last Decade
River Front Bar
At the Archabbey
Colloquy
Sanctuary
Country House
Monuments
Psalm in a Time of War
3 Creature
Creature's Introduction
Creature Downcast
The Creature Bids Farewell to His Mate
Creature Arrested
Creature Back Home
The Creature Entranced
Creature's Class War
The Creature Enraged
Creature at the River Front
Creature in Extremis
The Creature Midway
Creature's First Memory
The Creature's Thanksgiving
The Creature at Leisure
Creature's Morning Song
Creature Remembers His Mate
Creature at the Mall
Creature in Congruence with the Moon
Summa Contra Creature
Creature's Love Song
Creature's Nightmare
The Creature's Evening
Creature at a Party
Creature's Lament
Creature by the Window
Creature's Pronouncement
Creature Lights a Candle
The Creature Outside
The Creature on Saturday
Creature's Confession
Creature on Delivery
Creature at Rest
The Creature Goes Home Again
The Creature's Activism
Creature at the Airport
Creature on Art
The Creature's Summa
Creature on the Town
Creature on the Fourth of July
The Creature on His Beat
Creature at Work
Creature Considers the Dark
Creature Meets the Executioner
The Creature's Reverie
The Creature Walking
The Creature's Sadness
Creature at the Piano
The Creature Searching
The Creature in Repose
The Millennium Turning
To the Reader
Our Host Confused
'Evening Faces'
History
Plato's House
Summer
Traveler
What is Found
'Why Not Be Totally Changed into Fire?'
Such Blessing
'Their Solitary Way'
The Operation
Roughening
2 A Man Who Was Afraid of Language
A Man Who Was Afraid of Language
The Monastery Gate
A Priest I Once
What Was to Happen Already Occurred
Drifting
Summer Work
What is Revealed
Harold Graves Considers the Last Decade
River Front Bar
At the Archabbey
Colloquy
Sanctuary
Country House
Monuments
Psalm in a Time of War
3 Creature
Creature's Introduction
Creature Downcast
The Creature Bids Farewell to His Mate
Creature Arrested
Creature Back Home
The Creature Entranced
Creature's Class War
The Creature Enraged
Creature at the River Front
Creature in Extremis
The Creature Midway
Creature's First Memory
The Creature's Thanksgiving
The Creature at Leisure
Creature's Morning Song
Creature Remembers His Mate
Creature at the Mall
Creature in Congruence with the Moon
Summa Contra Creature
Creature's Love Song
Creature's Nightmare
The Creature's Evening
Creature at a Party
Creature's Lament
Creature by the Window
Creature's Pronouncement
Creature Lights a Candle
The Creature Outside
The Creature on Saturday
Creature's Confession
Creature on Delivery
Creature at Rest
The Creature Goes Home Again
The Creature's Activism
Creature at the Airport
Creature on Art
The Creature's Summa
Creature on the Town
Creature on the Fourth of July
The Creature on His Beat
Creature at Work
Creature Considers the Dark
Creature Meets the Executioner
The Creature's Reverie
The Creature Walking
The Creature's Sadness
Creature at the Piano
The Creature Searching
The Creature in Repose