Selected Poems 1965-1990

Selected Poems 1965-1990 collects 25 years of poetry from Marilyn Hacker, drawing from seven published volumes and including new work. The collection spans her early formal experiments through her more narrative-driven later pieces. The poems move through themes of identity, desire, and relationships while maintaining Hacker's characteristic attention to form and meter. Her technical command shows in sonnets, ghazals, and other structured verses that tackle contemporary subjects. Many pieces explore life in New York City and Paris, incorporating observations of urban spaces and the communities within them. The collection includes sequences about motherhood, Jewish identity, and lesbian relationships. The work represents both a personal chronicle and a broader examination of how traditional poetic forms can engage with modern experiences and perspectives. Through these selected poems, Hacker demonstrates poetry's capacity to bridge formal constraints with raw emotional and social truths.

Readers value Hacker's technical mastery of poetic forms, particularly her sonnets and villanelles. Reviews highlight her bold treatment of feminist themes, Jewish identity, and LGBTQ experiences. Many note her ability to blend formal structures with contemporary subjects and conversational language. Readers appreciate: - Sharp imagery and clever wordplay - Personal narrative poems about relationships and identity - Mix of traditional forms with modern perspectives Common criticisms: - Some poems feel overly intellectual or academic - Dense references require multiple readings - Later poems in the collection viewed as less impactful than earlier work Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (87 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (6 ratings) One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Her formal poetry never feels forced or constrained - the rhymes and meters flow naturally while tackling complex subjects." Amazon reviewer noted: "Hacker's command of form elevates everyday moments into universal experiences."

The Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich This collection explores feminist consciousness and lesbian identity through formal verse and free poems that mirror Hacker's technical precision and political themes.

What the Living Do by Marie Howe The poems chronicle personal loss, sexuality, and urban life through narrative structures that blend formal and contemporary elements.

The Kingdom of Ordinary Time by Marie Ponsot The work demonstrates mastery of traditional forms while addressing motherhood, love, and aging in metropolitan settings.

View with a Grain of Sand by Wisława Szymborska These poems combine intellectual rigor with observations of daily life through controlled forms that echo Hacker's attention to craft.

The Wild Iris by Louise Glück The collection weaves together nature, relationships, and personal mythology through structured verses that maintain formal precision.

🌟 Marilyn Hacker wrote many poems in this collection while living in both Paris and New York City, infusing her work with a unique trans-Atlantic perspective 📚 The collection includes selections from seven previous books, spanning 25 years of Hacker's poetic development and mastery of complex forms like the sonnet and villanelle 💫 Hacker received the National Book Award for Poetry in 1975 for her book "Presentation Piece," several poems from which appear in this collection 🎭 Throughout these poems, Hacker explores themes of Jewish identity, sexuality, feminism, and illness, drawing from her experiences as a lesbian Jewish woman and cancer survivor ✍️ Many poems in this collection showcase Hacker's trademark style of combining strict traditional forms with contemporary, conversational language and modern subject matter