Something Permanent

by Cynthia Rylant and Walker Evans

The photographs of Walker Evans tell stories of ordinary people living in America in the extraordinary time of the Great Depression. Cynthia Rylant's poetry about the photographs offers a new voice in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152770909
• ISBN13: 9780152770907
• Release Date: May 1994
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Cynthia Rylant is an unappreciated genius...

...and her obscurity is proof that we are not living in a meritocracy.

Stark Photographs and Luminous Little Poems

Cynthia Rylant has done the un-doable. She's written simple, beautiful, stark little amazing poems describing simple, beautiful, stark black and white photographs taken during the great Depression. Whoever said a picture is worth a thousand words, didn't know Ms. Rylant. For instance, next to a photograph of a very tall tree limb stuck in the ground with several gourd bird houses hanging haphazardly from it is this poem: Birdhouses People said they were a good excuse for looking up. That's the shortest poem in the book, but it's perfect for the photo. As soon as I read the last poem, I wanted to order copies of this book for every poetry-loving friend I have and scream, "STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND READ THIS RIGHT NOW!" Life is too, too short NOT to read poetry. It's life affirming, inspiring and uplifting. If only for a moment, it takes us outside of our selves and gives us a glimpse of pure Spirit. I've always believed that God can be found in the blank spaces between the words and this book of photos and poems only proves my theory. In the beginning was the word and the word was God. He's there in the words and the spaces. Buy this book and read it over and over and definitely give it to your friends and family. Even is you don't care for poetry, the photographs will speak to your heart and feed your spirit.

The combo of poetry/photos will make your heart ache.

Walker Evans' photos speak volumes without any poetry alongside them but Cynthia Rylant did a superb job of complementing the photos with her gritty observations. I bought this book several years ago and have read it numerous times since. Just looking at his brutally honest snapshots of the hard times (supposedly) gone by was worth the books' price but just as you think you've absorbed all the beauty his photographs hold, you look over to read her accompanying poem and your heart aches a little more! This book is beautiful and moving - there are really no other words to describe it! It truly makes one relate to and hurt for the suffering/troubles of the people in the photos. And, one should always keep in mind, just because the photos were taken so long ago doesn't mean there aren't still people in the grip of poverty ( & classism, suffering, depression, etc.) just as badly as the people whose images were captured in Evans' photos so many years ago. I've not really done that great a job explaining just how moving this book is but I guarantee you'll find it both gripping and touching and you'll laugh, cry, and get angry. Definitely a classic worth adding to your library!

Beautiful book!

Though they are simple and black and white, I found the photographs by Walker Evans to be fascinating. Cynthia Rylant's poetry adds depth to the photographs in this interesting look at the Depression era. I recommend this book.