Present Tense

by Anna Rabinowitz

Present Tense is a tour de force, a book-length poetic project that is anatomy, history, testimony, eulogy, and divining rod of our constantly evolving present. In four acts, Rabinowitz dramatizes not only our various socio-religious-political ecosystems but also the myriad echoes of those systems that resound in our psyches and permeate our thoughts. Through dialogue, reportage, Biblical reference, interview, famous speech, infamous cultural and historical events and more, Rabinowitz offers readers an arresting account of who and what we are as humans―in all of our darkness and our brilliance. This poetry―with its invigorating breadth and shocking immediacy―compels its readers' full engagement with the page, an interaction that incites us to examine our own position and potential in the ever-shifting kaleidoscope of the actual, as we experience it moment by moment.

Genres: Poetry

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kasandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ambitious project/book, I can't say the theme of war could be covered any more wholly and completely. There's great imagery here, and the voice is sure and possessing a hawk-like intelligence. However, this is the sort of post-modern collagist poetry that makes me feel removed from the voice itself. Reading it felt like an academic exercise, and stirred little emotion in me. The pieces/parts of pieces I liked best were exact quotes from other sources, and much of what was interspersed felt cliched to me, though the work as a whole is unlike anything else I've read, and thus original. Hard to describe. I am sure there are people who will adore this book, especially those into political poetry and post-modern writing. It just wasn't my cup of tea.

[Paula Koneazny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm reviewing Present Tense for American Book Review, so I will post that review when it appears.