Americana Collection Poems of War and Peace John Jiambalvo 9781493621996 Books
Download As PDF : Americana Collection Poems of War and Peace John Jiambalvo 9781493621996 Books
Americana Collection Poems of War and Peace, John Jiambalvo’s second book of poetry, explores topics such as politics, religion, love, and family. Together, these poems create a quilt of everyday American life, stitched together by the poet’s often sardonic, always insightful language.
The collection begins with the first of five sections, “In Tempore Belli,” which translates to “In Time of War.” A weighty beginning, this first assemblage of poems addresses current wars that seem far away and even nonexistent, as well as earlier wars that most people now view abstractly or nostalgically. Jiambalvo’s poems will open the eyes of readers who have taken current political realities for granted. He then moves readers through everyday life with middle sections entitled “Americana,” “Essential Gaudiness” (a phrase that nods to poet Wallace Stevens), and “You.” The book wraps up with the final section, “Toward a More Abundant Life,” and offers hope despite all that the book has represented before.
Formal without being ponderous, Jiambalvo’s poems are accessible to those who rarely read poetry while remaining interesting to those who are experts in contemporary American poetry.
Americana Collection Poems of War and Peace John Jiambalvo 9781493621996 Books
John Jiambalvo writes a magnificent collection of poetry that exhibits both his technical expertise in the English language as well as a deep emotional and spiritual connection with the world. His use of meter and rhyme in many of his poems flows effortlessly with the complexity of his experience, his poignant understanding of institutions and world events, while inviting the reader’s imagination into a new sense of being. All of history becomes his paint, as he mixes ancient philosophy and contemporary cultural points to create wonderful colors and contrasting shades throughout his poetry. One poignant example is “It Now Becomes Clear” on page 55. He begins the poem with the image of a personified snowdrift that conjures the reader’s imagination of a lost northern land lost to the winter. In the next line, he brings the reader back into the warm embrace of late summer in August with the bloom of an apple tree. / She of the snow-drifted cotton hair/ becomes an apple in tree in full bloom. He continues the poem by eliciting a spectrum of imagery such as senators as spiders, Satan as a media commentator, and judges as bats. Though the invoking of these metaphors might seem daunting, the poem flows with a certain natural grace ending on a declarative yet open-ended note that leaves the reader wanting more. Jiambalvo is fearless in his stout use of religious, political, and personal material throughout this collection. He does so in a unique and welcoming way that leaves the reader wanting to dive deeper into the psyche of the author, at the same he leaves clear and distinct guideposts so the reader can stay grounded in his or her own life. This is an excellent collection of poetry that is greatly needed for our time. It is wartime poetry that honors the brave men and women who have courageously fought wars over the 20th and 21st centuries. It does so while questioning why war ever needs to be waged at all. One will be nurtured and yet challenged in every word of every poem.Product details
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Americana Collection Poems of War and Peace John Jiambalvo 9781493621996 Books Reviews
Jiambalvo’s new poetry book, AMERICANA COLLECTION, surpasses even the erudite author’s SHADOWS WALKING AMOUNG QUESTIONS. It maintains the essential Jiambalvo qualities of philosophic breadth and skepticism, quirky irony, and nearly heartbreaking human compassion. Yet, this newest collection is even more accessible. As a college professor, I have taught Jiambalvo’s poems in numerous literature classes. The student favorite used to be “Do You Want to Know” (from SHADOWS) with the witty lines, “What turns the earth upon its way / Are lovers chasing lovers chasing lovers.” The new favorite, however, is “Noble Ancestors” from AMERICANA COLLECTION. The first line is telling “They were delivered to you like groceries / you didn’t order.” Once again, Jiambalvo has shown that a deeply nuanced poem, with topics that range from world military history to Catholic theology, can also be accessible to students, even college freshman. I cannot recommend this collection (both, actually) highly enough.
What a marvelous offering of poetry to be read and appreciated by readers of all types, even those who rarely read poetry. The material covered is so familiar to American history and current events of our time. The poems about war pay tribute to those who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms, yet raise the question as to why sensless wars are imposed upon us. A wonderful thread runs through each section as it connects to the next, taking us on a journey from war to everyday life and its struggles and triumphs, on to love and its joy and sorrows, and on to the hope of tomorrow, and healing. The ebb and tide of ordinary life flowing forth through extraordinary writing. I have read and re-read the poems of this book many times, and each time is a new experience. I agree with Catherine Henze's review (above) it does surpass Jiambalvo's first poetry book, Shadows Walking Among Questions, and it is packed with all of those essential Jiambalvo qualities she mentions. I highly recommend this book to everyone old enough to experience a powerful wave of emotion, be it joy, sorrow, awe, hope, angst, digust or pride. This book covers it all.
John Jiambalvo writes a magnificent collection of poetry that exhibits both his technical expertise in the English language as well as a deep emotional and spiritual connection with the world. His use of meter and rhyme in many of his poems flows effortlessly with the complexity of his experience, his poignant understanding of institutions and world events, while inviting the reader’s imagination into a new sense of being. All of history becomes his paint, as he mixes ancient philosophy and contemporary cultural points to create wonderful colors and contrasting shades throughout his poetry. One poignant example is “It Now Becomes Clear” on page 55. He begins the poem with the image of a personified snowdrift that conjures the reader’s imagination of a lost northern land lost to the winter. In the next line, he brings the reader back into the warm embrace of late summer in August with the bloom of an apple tree. / She of the snow-drifted cotton hair/ becomes an apple in tree in full bloom. He continues the poem by eliciting a spectrum of imagery such as senators as spiders, Satan as a media commentator, and judges as bats. Though the invoking of these metaphors might seem daunting, the poem flows with a certain natural grace ending on a declarative yet open-ended note that leaves the reader wanting more. Jiambalvo is fearless in his stout use of religious, political, and personal material throughout this collection. He does so in a unique and welcoming way that leaves the reader wanting to dive deeper into the psyche of the author, at the same he leaves clear and distinct guideposts so the reader can stay grounded in his or her own life. This is an excellent collection of poetry that is greatly needed for our time. It is wartime poetry that honors the brave men and women who have courageously fought wars over the 20th and 21st centuries. It does so while questioning why war ever needs to be waged at all. One will be nurtured and yet challenged in every word of every poem.
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