Ameriška lipa

by Matthew Zapruder, Ana Pepelnik (translator)

It is rare to come across a first book that embraces the world—the way we see it, and the way it can be imagined—with such a wise and graceful mixture of humor, loss, intelligence, wit, self-deprecation, and hope. American Linden is such a first collection.

The poems in this book are valuable, even necessary. They are, in the most important sense, love poems: to people, to ideas, to feelings, and to the mind itself, which—by means of language— move with honesty, wit, and distinction among the fleeting things of this world.

Genres: Poetry

93 pages, Unknown Binding

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Matthew Zapruder is the author of five collections of poetry, most recently Father’s Day, as well as Why Poetry, and Story of a Poem. In 2000, he co-founded Verse Press, and is now editor at large at Wave Books, where he edits contemporary poetry, prose, and translations. From 2016-7 he held the annually rotating position of Editor of the Poetry Column for the New York Times Magazine, and he was the Editor of Best American Poetry 2022. He lives in Northern California, and teaches in the MFA in Creative Writing at Saint Mary’s College of California. His forthcoming collection of poetry, I Love Hearing Your Dreams, will be published by Scribner in September, 2024.

Reviews

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a special interest in reading the first books of established poets now that I am writing my own first book. Zapruder is a poet I've heard speak a few times at AWP. I really respect his work and am excited to finally have time to read his books instead of reading a poem here and there on the internet or in magazines.

This book grew on me. I think the second-half of it is stronger than the first. Dara Wier's blurb on the back describes it well: "It is severe, it is steady, it is surprising." She's right--the most interesting aspect being its steadiness. I don't know how he maintains the even keel but he does. It's quite a feat.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zapruder spits hot fire!

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many such untethered visions
I pick up in a kind of abstract
awareness of ringing,
and it is you quite strangely
with whom in a light year
I have not spoken
calling from Connecticut,
a state based on convolution
and reticence to union.
For once I believe I am managing to sound
totally absolute and hollow
in the midpoint between
distance and feeling...
And glad to hang up I continue
my conversation between
the me that was feeling secretly
and a little glad to feel
crummy and lie abed continuing
fully funded research into the me that prefers
sitcoms to any sort
of human or literary bliss,
and the me that pretty clearly gets
pleasure out of looking disapproving
into such evenings and their residents.

from "So Be It

I enjoyed Zapruder's overview of reading poetry, Why Poetry, but what the hell is American Linden? These poems are frustrating, obscure, lack any reward for careful reading. The passage quoted above is the closest Zapruder comes to conveying something clear, emotional. Multiple readings, close readings--nothing helped with this verse. I have been disappointed by poetry collections before, but I almost gave this collection one star. Frankly, it is in English, but the text doesn't work as either the beauty/mystery of language nor on the transfer on the conveyance of unique experiences or emotions. The narrator is upset--about what? I have no idea. Somebody left him, or died, or something--but I can't be sure. We wander from line to line and nothing dissipates the fog surrounding these poems.

When I believed I had finally travelled
as far as a head
grim jew elves built through the air
could sail me,
I climbed down the ladder
bandaged in fog
and waited to be awoken.

from "September First"

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry collection from 2002 is enjoyable to read even with the stylistic surprises. One, Zapruder writes lyrically, often with memories as his themes. Two, he tends to switch subjects abruptly in mid-sentence many times in a single poem. Three, other frequent writing traits are personification in nature, bold contrasts, vagueness, lively storytelling. There are several more volumes, including the latest one Father's Day and a nonfiction Why Poetry .

[Timothy Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this one up at random (something I always do no matter what I'm getting from the library). A little too self-reflexive for my tastes, but with a lovely sense of line and a lot of verbal dexterity.

[Rebecca]

Really, really lovely. For more on Matthew, see the stuff I babbled about in my "review" of The Pajamist.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zapruder knows how to bring the juice.

[hh · Rating 3 out of 5]

dreamy and a/illusive.