Robert Thomas Sonnets -- Two Torches, One Cliff

 Sonnets with Two Torches and One Cliff by Robert Thomas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars Published 25 May 2023 as “Poetic Expressions” in The Berkeley Times, “Knox Book Beat.”

Thomas’ Sonnets are just amazing. William Butler Yeats said “a poem comes right with a click like a closing box,” and Thomas’ do just that; but in a sensual, organic way, not “mechanical” nor artificial in the least. His art of language, like the best, is totally hidden; leaving exactly the right sound and suggestion to strike the senses, mind and heart all at once.       

        Not rhyming nor strictly Iambic pentameter, they are all titled “SONNET WITH (ONE WORD/IMAGE) AND (ANOTHER WORD/IMAGE),” like “SONNET WITH SCHLOCK AND YONDER” and “SONNET WITH DEATH AND RED-CHECKED TABLECLOTH.” He said they were “theme and variation” on “jealous love of various kinds,” but I found them often the most precise, vivid, understandable and gracious explications of men’s jealousy of women (‘s sensuality/sexuality) I’d ever encountered. (And I’ve read A LOT on those subjects. Trust me. Freud was way off, but on generally the right track for his [highly restricted/patriarchal] era.)

         A few of my (very sparse) notes: “the poet and the form – interaction, creative. -- These are terrific poems! -- Great sound. -- Sharp. -- Completions. -- Just wonderful! -- Wow. -- Like Rilke, but modern. -- Miraculous. -- Understandably opaque. -- Duluth! -- Imagination… -- Better & better! -- Such a pleasure to love someone and write about it/them/yourself so perfectly! – 

        Who IS this guy? Robert Thomas. What a dumb name for such a magical wordsmith!... -- Love it. No idea what it ‘means’.” etc. -- “The storm of noise” -- The only cliché in the book. – “p. 83 -- Infinite truth.”

You don’t need a lot of notes if the poetry is just right. 

(CLICK)

Sonnets with Two Torches and One Cliff, Robert Thomas, 2023, Carnegie Mellon Press, https://citylights.com/general-poetry/sonnets-with-2-torches-1-cliff/

OR POETRY FLASH BOOKSHOP https://bookshop.org/p/books/sonnets-with-two-torches-and-one-cliff/18842999?ean=9780887486913   

 Poetry Foundation https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-thomas-56d205e3abb9f

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