The View We're Granted

In the pivotal poem "Marking Time," which appears almost exactly halfway through Peter Filkins's fourth collection of poetry, the speaker reflects on the death of a sibling and how time is marked by our memories. These memories, these moments-whether spent contemplating a painting by Vermeer or the simple toss of a bean bag-ultimately shape who we are. "Yet you are with me here, with me here again, / where neither that moon nor you exist, but live / tethered to this memory composed of words." These are poems unafraid to be graceful and engaging. They attain an assurance and stability rare in contemporary poetry, while their careful balance of sadness and joy reminds the reader of the difficult negotiations we make in life.

Author: Peter Filkins
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: 07/03/2012
Pages: 80
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.25lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.40w x 0.30d
ISBN: 9781421406329

About the Author

Peter Filkins is a poet who teaches writing and literature at Bard College at Simon's Rock. He is the author of What She Knew and After Homer as well as the chapbook Augustine's Vision. He has also translated the poetry and novels of Ingeborg Bachmann and the novels of H. G. Adler.