Save the Last Dance: Poems

by Gerald Stern

The fifteenth collection by a celebrated poet whose "terrific, boisterous energy has never flagged" (Megan Harlan, San Francisco Chronicle ). In Save the Last Dance , Gerald Stern gives us a stunning collection of his intimately personal―yet always universal, and always surprising―poems, rich with humor and insight. Shorter lyric poems in the first two parts continue the satirical and often redemptive vision of his last collection, Everything Is Burning , while never failing to carve out new emotional territory. In the third part, a long poem called "The Preacher," Stern takes the book of Ecclesiastes as a starting point for a meditation on loss, futility, and emptiness, represented here by the concept of a "hole" that resurfaces throughout.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Hardcover

First published May 17, 2008

About the author

Gerald Stern, the author of seventeen poetry collections, has won the National Book Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the Ruth Lilly Prize, and the Wallace Stevens Award, among others. He lives in Lambertville, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Janée Baugher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The inside jacket copy says it best, "Stern treats us to careening, soaring moments of association..." Single-stanza poems in which line breaks serve as caesuras/punctuation. Most of the page-long poems seemed to me to trail off and then end abruptly. Riveting collection for its fluidity, its loose-associations. Electrifying. Stern is a true practitioner of the imagination/of free-writing magic. In the preface to his epic poem, "The Preacher," Stern writes, "I have taken a hundred liberties as my pencil has directed..." Indeed, Stern, indeed. Read this book, poets!

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

You ever just spam the middle button of predictive text to see if it makes a coherent sentence? Imagine that but an entire book of poems with that vibe.

I did have a few favorites that made sense, and they were:
Blue Like That
Flute
Love
Love Box

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was about half way through this before I understood how to read it. And shortly after that, he changed up his style for "The Preacher." For me, I had to read Stern one word at a time. I don't mean that to be cliche, it's just that his lack of punctuation is very disconcerting. If I try to find some sort of rhythm I go crazy trying to place it and force it. I could be reached (poetircally) if I read at an even pace and fairly monotone.

For Example:

Dream III

I would like to live on air too
and I have an idea the kind of nourishment
I'd get with or without my strings for what did
I need them for and all those gnarled roots
beside the wilted rhododendron and what did
I need the dried-out grapes for and the wet
leaves and one harmonica under a rusted
burst-out water pipe and even a mangled
sparrow under the porch the way my brain works.


Anyway, as with most any poetry collection I read, there were some definite gems. I have noticed though, that when I go back and read other people's reviews of the book I just read they all seem to say, "This is not _______________'s best collection." Well that's what I want to see.

I did particularly like "One Poet." I sense that the other poet morphed into the dog and he morphed into the pigeon. If that's the case, it's a brilliant poem by Stern. I'd like to know what others thought about it.

Asphodel made a lot more sense when I found that it was a flower. (I already know about the poppies blowing in Flander's Fields.)

And The Preacher. I couldn't grasp the whole thing, but I too like the Tanakh and I've often pondered the eternity in Ecc. 3:11.

I'm tempted to give it 2 stars, and everyone loves a good negative review, but I guess I just rate a little high, that's all.

[AC · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it does contain some moments of excellent imagery and more than a few interesting lines, as a whole this collection feels uninspired and lifeless. Hints of Stern's usual mastery show through at times but rarely does this collection approach the energy and strength of his previous works.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to just see him read his poetry in public. I'm guessing that is a rare experience these days. He was delightful and hearing his poetry in person was amazing. It prompted me to read this book. I really enjoyed it.

[Di · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I have to read this again someday because I think I might have missed something either because of my own inadequate attention at the moment or because I lack the knowledge to understand most of the poems.. I don't know. But this didn't really do much for me (sigh)