This year’s poetry collections span a diverse range of themes and styles, from intimate explorations of personal identity and social justice to evocative musings on nature and existence. Here is a curated list of poetry collections you should read in 2024.
Wrong Norma by Anne Carson
Anne Carson, one of the most acclaimed poets of our time and a frequent contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature, remains famously elusive, preferring her books to be published without cover copy. In a rare moment of clarity, she describes her latest collection, Wrong Norma, as an eclectic mix of reflections. The book encompasses a wide range of subjects, including Joseph Conrad, Guantánamo, Flaubert, snow, poverty, Roget’s Thesaurus, her father, Saturday nights, Socrates, sonnet writing, forensics, love encounters, the concept of ‘idea’, the feet of Jesus, and Russian thugs. Carson explains, "The pieces are not connected. That’s why I’ve called them ‘wrong’."
Adam by Gboyega Odubanjo
On September 21, 2001, the torso of a young Black boy was found in the River Thames near Tower Bridge in central London, dressed only in a pair of orange girls' shorts. Named "Adam" by the police, the boy was estimated to be between four and eight years old. Haunted by this tragic discovery, Gboyega Odubanjo's Adam draws on Genesis and Yoruba traditions to explore the profound impact of the child’s disappearance. The work confronts the broader implications for Black lives and society, delving into the deep-seated issues of loss and identity.
A Year of Last Things by Michael Ondaatje
Following the success of his internationally celebrated novels, Michael Ondaatje makes a highly anticipated return to poetry with A Year of Last Things. In this collection, Ondaatje crafts poems that range from witty to deeply moving, always infused with wisdom. Through alchemical leaps and evocative imagery, we traverse time, uncovering writings by revered masters, moments of shared tenderness, and the abandoned landscapes that shape our memories and experiences. From a Sri Lankan boarding school to Molière’s final stage performance, from Bulgarian churches and their icons to the California coast and his cherished Canadian rivers, Ondaatje’s keen eye blends memory with the present. His reflections illuminate how distant shores of art and lost friendships continue to influence and enrich the world around him.
The Knot of My Tongue by Zehra Naqvi
At the core of The Knot of My Tongue lies Zehra Naqvi’s exploration of language and the self-reinvention that emerges from profound personal upheaval. Through a diverse range of poetic forms, these introspective and probing poems reflect on the loss of expression following encounters with powerful forces, whether they be historical events or personal relationships, spanning across generations, continents, and realms.
How to Love in Sanskrit, Translated by Anusha Rao, Suhas Mahesh
How to Love in Sanskrit uncovers the rich tradition of love poetry in Sanskrit, a language often seen as the realm of the gods but deeply entwined with the theme of love for over 3,000 years. This collection features verses and prose from renowned figures like Kalidasa and Banabhatta, alongside Buddhist and Jain monks, scholars, and modern poets. It offers timeless insights on love, from crafting a love potion and giving compliments to navigating heartbreak and letting go. This brilliantly translated anthology brings ancient wisdom on love to contemporary readers.
Words Platform Desk
Date 12.09.2024