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Amaranthine Hour
This is wonderful work. The poems in Amaranthine Hour are both vibrant and somehow modest at the same time, wonderfully reflective. The speaker has earned maturity and understanding yet realizes that even this achievement has its limits and is ephemeral. The mildly eccentric, at times, lineation works here, as do subtle repetitions throughout the well-patterned and arranged manuscript. Teeters at the brink of sadness but refuses to give in to it.
37 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 31, 2023
A book that took me on a journey with all of my senses. Hammons did an excellent job at connecting me with the outside world and my inner peace. What a beautiful way of looking at nature that we oftentimes forget is there. The flow of the wind will stay with me for ever. A book of poetry that goes beyond what words can do to the soul.
October 5, 2014
I don't often take the time to enjoy poetry, but I'm glad I read Chera Hammons' Amaranthine Hour.
I've been through the book twice now. It's not long--twenty-one poems in all--but the lines are complex enough that it takes time to digest as you read. The poems scan well on the page and are lyrical in such a way that makes them delightful to read aloud. They are typically a page or two in length, although a couple, including the book's title track, are a little over three pages.
It might be the free verse or the occasional French, but the tone reminds me of T.S. Eliot. I realize this statement is heavy-handed, but I struggled for some time to find something with a similar autumnal, sometimes ominous feel. The quiet beauty and the way Hammons finds transcendence in mundane moments also made me think of Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine.
While the tone and style are consistent throughout, the subject of the poems varies wildly. You go from dwelling on eternity to a quiet morning spent fishing, from old gods to the spring plowing. The poet does an excellent job on both ends of the spectrum. I like the many allusions and the subtle theme of nature found throughout.
My favorite bit of imagery in the book is the description of a crooked Van Gogh painting, where the contents of the image slip and slide in the frame. There are several poems that reference art, and I've found that paintings and poems go quite well together.
If you appreciate poetry with a bit of weight and nuance, I'd recommend Amaranthine Hour. It's a wonderful way to spend a quiet afternoon, and a book well worth revisiting.
I've been through the book twice now. It's not long--twenty-one poems in all--but the lines are complex enough that it takes time to digest as you read. The poems scan well on the page and are lyrical in such a way that makes them delightful to read aloud. They are typically a page or two in length, although a couple, including the book's title track, are a little over three pages.
It might be the free verse or the occasional French, but the tone reminds me of T.S. Eliot. I realize this statement is heavy-handed, but I struggled for some time to find something with a similar autumnal, sometimes ominous feel. The quiet beauty and the way Hammons finds transcendence in mundane moments also made me think of Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine.
While the tone and style are consistent throughout, the subject of the poems varies wildly. You go from dwelling on eternity to a quiet morning spent fishing, from old gods to the spring plowing. The poet does an excellent job on both ends of the spectrum. I like the many allusions and the subtle theme of nature found throughout.
My favorite bit of imagery in the book is the description of a crooked Van Gogh painting, where the contents of the image slip and slide in the frame. There are several poems that reference art, and I've found that paintings and poems go quite well together.
If you appreciate poetry with a bit of weight and nuance, I'd recommend Amaranthine Hour. It's a wonderful way to spend a quiet afternoon, and a book well worth revisiting.
March 5, 2013
This collection of poetry by Chera Hammons contains powerful images and sometimes poignant musings on experiencing nature and emotions and life. Wit, irony, compasion used to explore and attempt to describe a most unique and personal view of the world.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews