Blessed as We Were: Late Selected and New Poems 2000-2018

Blessed as We Were collects poems written by Gerald Stern between 2000-2018, representing the final phase of the celebrated poet's career. This volume brings together selected works from his previous collections along with new poems published here for the first time. Stern's distinctive voice carries through these verses as he reflects on memories, relationships, and observations from his long life. The poems move between Pittsburgh streets, European cities, and quiet domestic moments with an energy that belies the poet's advanced age. The work grapples with mortality, legacy, and the persistence of wonder in old age without falling into sentimentality. Through Stern's characteristic blend of humor and gravity, the collection serves as both a summation of his poetic vision and a continuation of his lifelong artistic project.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Gerald Stern's overall work: Readers connect deeply with Stern's conversational tone and raw emotional honesty in poems about family, Judaism, and urban life. Reviews frequently mention his ability to find meaning in everyday moments and memories. What readers liked: - Direct, accessible language that remains sophisticated - Personal narratives that expand into universal themes - Rich descriptions of Pittsburgh and Jewish-American experiences - Humor mixed with serious reflection - Strong sense of place and memory What readers disliked: - Some poems can feel rambling or overly long - References can be obscure without context - Later collections seen as repetitive in themes - Occasional political commentary feels forced Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.2/5 average across collections Amazon: 4.4/5 average "This Time": 4.5/5 (2,100+ ratings) "Lucky Life": 4.3/5 (1,800+ ratings) One reader noted: "His poems read like intimate conversations with a wise friend." Another observed: "Stern makes the ordinary extraordinary without being pretentious."

Collected Later Poems by Anthony Hecht This collection chronicles the passage of time and mortality through Jewish-American perspectives and historical memory.

The Wild Iris by Louise Glück The poems interweave human consciousness with natural cycles through garden imagery and philosophical questioning.

Walking to Martha's Vineyard by Franz Wright These poems explore spiritual seeking and personal redemption through stark observations of everyday life.

Time and Materials by Robert Hass The collection meditates on nature, politics, and personal history through a blend of narrative and lyrical forms.

Without End: New and Selected Poems by Adam Zagajewski These poems connect European historical consciousness with personal memory through observations of art, music, and daily life.

🌟 Gerald Stern was named the first Poet Laureate of New Jersey in 2000, the same year that begins the timespan covered by this collection. 🖋️ This book was published posthumously in 2023, following Stern's death at age 97 in October 2022. 📚 The collection includes both previously published works and new poems written during what would be the final chapters of Stern's nearly seven-decade career in poetry. 🎭 Stern's distinctively long lines and conversational style, which are showcased in this collection, were influenced by his Jewish heritage and his upbringing in Pittsburgh during the Great Depression. 🏆 The book serves as a capstone to a career that earned numerous prestigious honors, including the National Book Award for Poetry in 1998 for "This Time: New and Selected Poems."