The Infirmary

Wick First Book

by Edward Micus

"[Edward Micus's The Infirmary is] a rarity: a mature debut, a first book of poems with time-tested virtues. . . . Unlike many of the Vietnam poems written at the time of the war or shortly thereafter--poems of anger or protest--Edward Micus's poems are composed, in every sense of that word. They delineate and measure their subjects; they do not advocate or hector; they do not sentimentalize. Many of them, like 'Ambush Moon' and 'So We Shot, ' will take their places among the very best war poems. . . . The Infirmary is a book that keeps deepening its concerns. For all its early charm, it pretties up nothing. Yet it's not without humor, and its prose interludes are written with the same care that the poems themselves exhibit."
--from the foreword by Stephen Dunn,
Judge of the 2008 Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize

"Edward Micus won't write the kind of poem whose language leads only to charming confusions, whose music is machine-pressed, a tin ornament. His poems instead speak directly, and their quiet, searing imagery burns down the fence between visible and invisible world. That music you hear--it's the rhythm of affection, for places, lovers, friends. It's the rhythm of the blood 'taking in what it can, making its laps, / leading us on.'"
--Richard Robbins

Genres: Poetry

72 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ashley]

The Infirmary is a carefully crafted collection of poems about war and violence and how it affects those involved and those who aren't. Micus is a master of language and line. Vivid imagery and powerful persona poems can be found throughout. The poet also connects moments in ways that are unique and unexpected.

Though this wasn't my favorite book of poetry, I commend Micus for his careful and thoughtful writing. At times the rhyming was a bit heavy, and I think he reached too far for humor, but I don't think it would be the same collection without odd moments of humor. And, it is a successful collection of poetry.

By far, my favorite pieces were those prose poems sprinkled throughout, and I plan to read the collection again to pick up on more connections.

This collection is a must read for any student studying poetry.

[Luke Daly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moments of absolute brilliance. And even the low parts are pretty good. He's obsessed with scrotums, which is in one way liberating and another way cloying (just like the actual anatomy!). A poet's poet, no doubt about it, with high-soaring metaphors and all the grit and composure of hard-won expression. I'm glad to have been acquainted with him for a short time in my life.

As a plus, Stephen Dunn judged the competition for which this title won. He offers a short but smart introduction that discusses why he picked this book among its contemporaries. So that is good for writers that may be looking at first-book competitions.


LD

[Stefanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for a college course and didn't like it at all so a decade later I figured I'd give it another try.

His obsession with scrotums still makes me cringe, and he just writes lots of poems about things that I think are gross that I don't want to read about. This is not really my kind of book.

But he's not a bad poet. "Woman at the Wall" is so haunting. This book itself is so very sad.

[Brandon Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who is looking for a book of poems with a military slant, this is one you can't pass up. It's as good as Bruce Weigl, and one of my favorite poems
is in here. "So We Shot" is a poem everyone should read.