Diving Into the Wreck: Poems, 1971-1972

by Adrienne Rich

Book Overview

"I came to explore the wreck. / The words are purposes. / The words are maps. / I came to see the damage that was done / and the treasures that prevail." These provocative poems move with the power of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393043843
• ISBN13: 9780393043846
• Release Date: January 1973
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 62 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Favorite poet

Adrienne Rich's poetry (and her prose as well) speak with the feminine voice and touch the feminine soul.

my favorite single volume of poetry

Adrienne Rich is one of America's best poets, and this is certainly her best collection. To use the word "angst" to describe these poems (as a previous reviewer did) is to diminish these works of volcanic beauty. This collection reads very well as an organic whole, but some of the best individual poems are "Incipience," "The Stranger," and, of course, the title poem. Common themes of awakening and discovery run through this book; I wish that every women would read these poems. Rich finally shakes free of the masculine poetic establishment and rejects male mythology as she writes:A man is asleep in the next room/ We are his dreams/ We have the heads and breasts of women/ the bodes of birds of prey/ Sometimes we turn into silver serpentsRich dives into the wreck and comes out transformed. Don't miss this opportunity to explore your own wreck.

Years of Angst and Resolution

The poems that are included in this book are particulary noteworthy for their angst. Rich weaves words into powerful images that portray her stuggle as a woman, a lover, and as a human being. This collection of poems was written during the early years (1971-72) of her career as a poet. Although the imagery and voice are understandably not as clearly defined as in her recent work, this book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the development of poetic voice and style.