Problematica: New and Selected Poems 1995-2020
216
Problematica: New and Selected Poems 1995-2020
216Hardcover
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Overview
Problematica — a scientific term used to describe species that defy classification. See unidentifiable.
George Murray is a strange beast. Lauded as one of Canada’s leading poets, his work has been published around the world, but here at home, he has never really “fit in” with his contemporaries. By turns archly formal and thoughtful, insouciant and hilarious, each of his six books seems intent on staking out its own identity, standing alone in stark contrast to all others.
Yet, in this judicious selection of new and selected poems spanning Murray’s 25-year career, we see threads and patterns emerge like fractals. From early narrative poems to lyrical explorations of the metaphysical to investigations of the colloquial and contemporary, Murray’s work roams a landscape that includes everything from happiness to regret, love to loss, doubt to faith, anxiety to acceptance.
This collection not only represents the best of Murray’s earlier poems, but also surprises readers with a section of never-before-seen new work, revealing a life spent wrestling with what it means to arrive, live, and leave. Problematica is a considerable body of poetry from a mind that obsessively wanders the edges of thought and language, working to identify what boundaries may or may not exist.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781770415331 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Misfit Book |
| Publication date: | 09/07/2021 |
| Pages: | 216 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.82(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Places, Everyone
It is late, and you are always late arriving, and the bell has rung and the lobby lights are flashing— so, watch the crowd to see where you’re supposed to go. Track the shapes of those ahead looking to find a seat, filing through the dark beyond the doors, but stopping before the curtains. It was a mad rush getting here, but now it’s out of your hands, and soon the spotlights will rise with everyone in their proper places and the tale will be told. It is time to make your last breath deep enough to recount how all went in its entirety, the story of how you came to be standing here in line at the will-call, late and waiting on a ticket reserved in your name for a show you aren’t even sure is still running, and of which you heard only one thing— there will be no intermission.
Table of Contents
Introduction to George Murray 1
From Carousel 5
The Carnie's Obituary 6
The Medium's Observance 7
The Aerialist's Fall 8
The Lion Tamer's Embalming 9
The Ventriloquist's Homicide 10
The Diviner's Eulogy 11
The Astrologer's Last Testament 12
The Exorcist's Epitaph 13
The Eschatologist's End 14
The Numerologist's Obituary 15
The Oracle's Will 16
The Solipsist's Requiem 17
The Pornophile's Eulogy 18
The Somnambulist's Burial 19
The Narcissist's Kaddish 20
The Coroner's Autopsy 21
The Mnemonist's Eulogy 22
The Cardiologist's Arrest 23
From the Cottage Builder's Letter 25
The Last of the Sinners Waits on a Rock for Noah 26
The Cottage Builder's Letter 28
Questions for an Elderly Gentleman 40
The Train 42
Nostalgia for the Second Just Past 43
Excerpts from Great Literatures of the Past 45
Library 46
Despite the Hunger and Delicious Taste 47
Rain 49
An Egyptian Soldier on the Red Sea Swims Away from Moses 51
From the Hunter 53
Hunter 54
Weathervane 57
Violin 59
Kite 61
Anchor 63
Cage 66
Pike 68
Statue 70
Bear 72
Flag 73
Minefield 74
Book 76
Reef 78
Crane 80
From the Rush to Here 83
This Is Not Your Story 84
Rearview Mirror 85
A Moment's Autograph 86
Days of Glass 87
Drawing in Water 88
Ditch 89
Automatic Doors 90
The Unequal Gaze 91
The Devil 92
Truck Stop Gothic 93
Many Worlds 94
A Silent Film 95
A Set of Deadly Negotiations 96
Rush 97
War Memorial 98
Silence Is a Dead Language 99
All the Standard Candles 100
Exit Strategy 101
Mostly the World Waits 102
Go 103
From Whiteout 105
Dante's Shepherd 106
The New Weather 107
Brushfires 108
Fuse 109
Cowboy Story 110
The Snails 111
Song for Memory 114
Pareidolia 116
Emergency Broadcast System 117
Owed 119
Blazon for the Crone 120
Song for a Divorce Budget 121
The Definition of Zero 122
Training Day 123
Icarus in the Wax Museum 124
Rose 125
State of Emergency 126
Whiteout 129
Cantus Firmus (Spring Morning) 130
From Diversion 131
#CivilDisconvenience 132
#ClockworkOrRage 134
#MarginalPersonalityOrder 136
#OutLiars 138
#UCan'tDoucheThis 140
#TheKnownUniVersace 142
#SocialMedea 144
#HelterSkeletor 146
#GloryGloryHolelluja 148
#TheBookOfRevolutions 150
Invisible Ink 153
The Architect 154
The Clearing 155
Kitchen Sink Drama 156
Animal Is My Inner Animal 157
False Spring 159
A Ninevite Pedagogue Relates the Lesson of Jonah 160
Prize Pumpkin 162
New Refugees Wait at the Lights to Cross Kenmount Road in a Blizzard 163
Old Man 165
A Long Dead Woman from Bethany Is Saddened to See Lazarus Swept Away 166
Prisoner Transport 168
Death of the Devout Christian's Husband 169
Problematica 171
Just Enjoy the Party, She Said 172
Gutter 173
Dogs 174
Things Cut in Half 175
Late Storm 176
Ectopia Cordis 177
White 178
Summer Fever 179
Picture the Audacity of a Pig 180
How to Pick the Perfect Sapling for a Lean-To 181
Swear Jar 182
Grace 183
Storm Door 184
The Perseids 185
In Season 186
Lot's Eurydice 187
Special Weather Statement 188
Nesting Instinct 191
Incertae sedis 192
Irish Exit 193
Flute Lesson 194
Hitcher 195
The Verge 196
You Can't Say Anything Anymore 197
Places, Everyone 198
Acknowledgements 199
About the Author 201
Permissions 202