PYX

by Corinne Lee

When Pattiann Rogers selected this book for the 2004 National Poetry Series, she praised its “original and engaging music,” the way Corinne Lee “skillfully interweaves wit, playfulness, and a joie de vivre with serious study and meditations.” PYX takes its title from the box containing the host, a wafer that is transformed into spirit upon consumption. And Lee’s poems effect similar transformations. Death, adultery, and fractured marriages become occasions for redemption. Scenes from domestic life are juxtaposed with themes from art, philosophy, and literature. PYX moves effortlessly between high and low culture, between the mundane, sacred, and profane, exploring the possibilities of language with exhilarating vigor.

From “Always a Strapping Apricot Can Be Found”

... the past tells
that at any moment, the martial body
can be scratched. Deeply, of course.
To drag forth a sugared bone
of abalone.

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

First published May 31, 2005

Reviews

[Marguerite Hargreaves · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reviews for this book led me to believe I'd love it, but I labored over it and finished it out of a sense of duty. Lee can turn a nice phrase "empty as unbought cups," but much of this book struck me like an opportunity to show off her large and otherwise useless vocabulary. When it comes to my poetry shelf, I'm pretty possessive, but this one's going to be donated to the public library.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Use of language in this book is mystifying. Such unusual images and choices of wording and yet I know exactly what she means and I wish I had said it myself.

[Margaryta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pyx I would've given it a 4, however the reason why I didn't is because there were words in many of the poems - in fact I'd even say that there was at least one word in each poem - which I didn't know the definition of. Of course, good vocabulary is always a benefit and even a strength of any written piece, but at times throughout the book it felt like these words acted more like "fluff", to impress the reader with the poet's vast vocabulary rather than to get the message across.There were too many poems in this book that I loved to list them separately, however it's worth noting the one line from the poem "White Flag" which I loved and still remember,"The lion roars,/upon spying a woman's flesh/between the legs, O poor lady,/who hath wounded thee/so deeply?"The poems had that beautiful elegant touch to them that really drew me in. These should be read in doses, don't expect do down all the poems right away. They were true treasures however, with beautiful images and atmosphere that was complimented with topics that are easy to relate to and philosophies and ideas which will make you want to return to. I will be returning to this book again in the future, for sure. It was so beautiful and I feel I haven't taken out everything from these poems that can be.

[William Stobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good poems are in this book. I didn't say that right.

[Liam Strong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-researched poetry is interesting and all, especially from an academic standpoint, but reading PYX is like dragging a cabinet of the Oxford English Dictionary through a field of flaming caltrops. There are so many images I want so badly to enjoy, but there's a gravitas of linguistic conceit here that I can only implore as the reason why so many young readers have grown to hate poetry. And as someone who loves poetry, a poet themselves, I found myself only 20 pages in with the determination to finish this just for the sake of removing it from my 'currently-reading' list on Goodreads. I'm so glad I got this collection cheap at a used bookstore, because I'll probably sell it to another for store credit.

[Meg Ready · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her style takes a bit to get a handle of as there is a lot of highbrow terminology and allusions, but well worth the patience. Her images and world building are exciting and innovative. A few poems that seem a bit abstract and don't quite fit in, but still worthy additions all round.

[Aquila · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I normally enjoy learning new words while reading I found it takes me entirely out of the rhythm of a piece of poetry, and that happened a bit too often in PYX for me to actually be able to appreciate the poems.