First Harvest: Poems Made from Joshua Trees, Acorns, the Himalayas, Birthdays, Winter Suns, Dancing Bears, Clouds, Cloudless Skies, Kindness and Love - Softcover

Rossetter, Phil

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1672450896 ISBN 13: 9781672450898

Publisher: Independently published, 2019

Synopsis

The poems in this book are written in a wide variety of forms, from free verse reminiscent of Whitman or English translations of Hafiz, to Shakespearean sonnets (in a conversational style), to something in between: what the author describes as “Rhythmic Verse.” In a tender and intimate way, they wonder at the depths and mystery of nature, including human nature. They describe how little we truly know of reality, examining its details, as the subtitle indicates, by way of such things as Joshua Trees, acorns, the Himalayas, birthdays, winter suns, dancing bears, clouds, cloudless skies, kindness and love. These instances of existence, and hundreds of others like them, are used to show us how to make sense of reality, enough to find our way.The poems span 35 years, in chronological order, with extensive and intimate autobiographical notes, “Poet’s Notes” as the author calls them. These are written in an easy-to-read and entertaining style that enhances the poetry. The notes discuss not only the background and origin of each poem in the author’s life, but also provide a detailed examination of the verse craft he uses to construct the poetry. At the same time, the poems reveal more deeply and purely than prose could what the author has learned from his many and varied experiences in life - in particular the answers to the questions he started out with about the nature of this world and the purpose of a human life. A clear understanding runs through the book that informs each poem, in the poetry as well as between the lines, about what to do with the lifetime we find ourselves in.The Preface opens with the question, “What is poetry?” It attempts an answer through a detailed examination of the oft-proposed distinction between poetry and verse, as well as considerations of etymology, and the relationship between meaning and beauty.The Introduction provides an explanation for the unique format of the book, with its extensive Poet’s Notes accompanying each poem. It does so by means of addressing the dimensions of subjective and objective perception in the experience of poetry, and of art in general.

Edition details

• Publisher: Independently published
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1672450896
• ISBN 13: 9781672450898
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 383