Correcting the World, Poems Selected & New 1980-2024
by Michael Blumenthal

Description

An important and long-awaited survey of the finest poems from the accomplished and well-praised Michael Blumenthal.  The collection choses from nine published volumes (the lovely and engaging book Laps is included in its entirety) and includes ten new works from this indefatigable poet, called by Seamus Heaney “One of the natural poets of his generation.”  The 410 pages are prefaced with an impressive collection of supportive comments from his career by Helen Vendler, Jay Parini, Howard Nemerov, Anthony Hecht, Charles Fishman, W.D. Snodgrass, D.M. Thomas, Daniel Epstein, Philip Lopate, Stephen Dunn, Edward Hirsch, among others.

“Correcting the World by Michael Blumenthal selects poems from his 9 earlier books, and adds ten new poems–a magnificent accomplishment. The later poems address aging in some surprising ways. Blumenthal’s main subject is romance (among humans, and between humans and nature), in its ideal forms and disappointments. So glad we’ve got [these] reprints of some of his earlier books (some of which are hard to find!), and especially my favorite of his poems, the magisterial ‘Fish Fucking.'” – Kim Roberts