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The Clerk's Tale: Poems
In a recent double fiction issue, The New Yorker devoted the entire back page to a single poem, "The Clerk's Tale," by Spencer Reece. The poet who drew such unusual attention has a surprising background: for many years he has worked for Brooks Brothers, a fact that lends particular nuance to the title of his collection. The Clerk's Tale pays homage not only to Chaucer but...more
Paperback, 65 pages
Published
April 4th 2004
by Mariner Books
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I know I probably should find more to like in this debut collection of poetry, it won a couple of awards and the New Yorker devoted an entire back page to the title poem (which is the best piece in the collection).
It's very clear now that I'm drawn to more linear, narrative voices in poetry. Certainly, The Clerk's Tale (the poem) fits this frame, so too did 'Cape Cod', but much of the remaining poems, I'm sure lend to some sort of brilliance, but I found the voice and rhythm too repetitive and m...more
It's very clear now that I'm drawn to more linear, narrative voices in poetry. Certainly, The Clerk's Tale (the poem) fits this frame, so too did 'Cape Cod', but much of the remaining poems, I'm sure lend to some sort of brilliance, but I found the voice and rhythm too repetitive and m...more
This book of poetry introduce me to forms of poetry (like the ghazal) that I'd never heard of and now absolutely adore. It also contains such a perfect balance of straightforward, no-nonsense, little description poetry with the type of wonderful, flowing, ornate descriptions that I absolutely love and adore. Spencer Reece is an exquisite poet. The poem "Ghazals For Spring" is one of the best poems I have read in a very long time, despite how long it is. I really have to read more of this poet.
If a poet has complete control over a poem's ideas and language, it probably isn't worth writing in the first place. I like poems with rough edges. I like poems that grasp and groan to explain things that, really, can't be explained by words at all. A few of the poems here capture that. I liked "Ghazals for Spring" and "Florida Ghazals" particularly. But a lot of them were just too polished, too neat and tidy, for my to enjoy.
my current mentor whom i madly adore. i'm so excited for the work we're going to be doing after admiring him since '04...and he's having me do the craziest/greatest exercises...turning poems into menus and screenplay formats of dialogues...guh! LOVE IT. and everyone should read this. especially the 'bestiary' section...
bought at Barner Books September 2012
There is an artlessness to Reece's poems, in that he makes it appear as if no effort went into their creation. I need to mull over the collection longer before writing more.
There is an artlessness to Reece's poems, in that he makes it appear as if no effort went into their creation. I need to mull over the collection longer before writing more.
The poet is a friend and knowing him as a person adds a different understanding of the tales he spins. Wonderfully done and worthy of the praise it has received.
This was the infamous 'back page of the New Yorker' poem, the one that was hyped, the one that got all the fancy back cover blurbs. It deserved it. The short version: His sense of place was impeccable and varied. His risky choice to include three ghazal sequences, based on the ancient Persian form, were riveting. Rare enough to feel it, so it should be mentioned: I loved everything about this book.
His first book of poems, won the Breadmaker's prize or some such thing. Calls Deborah Keenan a savior. Reece was assistant manager at a Brooks Brothers in MOA, and the title poem chronicles that, as well as alludes to Chaucer. "Sometimes the snow falls like rice"-- this line actually made it into my dream one night. Good poems.
Even when Reece is writing about Florida, I feel like he takes me places I have never been.
Classy, honest, focused. This book is one of my all time favorites. Reece has an amazing knack for inhabiting a place and offering it to the reader with obsessive poetic clarity.
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Sep 12, 2007
Nina
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone who loves poetry
Shelves:
sarahs-group
Incredibly gorgeous personal, lyrics full of contrasts: spare and lush, baroque and plain-spoken. Will go down as one of the best books of poetry of the decade.
I went to Spencer's reading earlier this month, and this is the best poetry I've heard/read in a long time.
Probably the best "first book" contest winner I've ever read. Classical style, emotional depth. Authentic voice.
An uncommonly virtuosic first book of poetry from a heretofore unheard of poet.
Oh God so beautiful--and even better when he reads it. Gorgeous.
read it cover to cover. read it again.
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