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The Government Lake: Last Poems by Carolyn Kizer

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The Government Lake: Last Poems

by James Tate

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1519 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	101 pages

An Exploration of Love, Loss, and the Passage of Time

Carolyn Kizer's "The Government Lake: Last Poems" is a powerful and poignant collection that explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. Published posthumously in 2005, the book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for Poetry.

Kizer's poems are characterized by their honesty, intelligence, and wit. She writes about the complexities of human relationships, the pain of loss, and the beauty of the natural world. Her poems are often deeply personal, but they also resonate with universal themes that will speak to readers of all ages.

One of the most striking things about "The Government Lake" is Kizer's use of language. She is a master of metaphor and simile, and she uses these devices to create vivid and unforgettable images. In the poem "The Great Blue Heron," for example, she compares the bird to a "winged hieroglyph / Against the orange sun."

Kizer also has a keen eye for detail, and she uses this to create a rich and evocative sense of place. In the poem "The Pond," she describes the "green scum" on the water and the "dragonflies / Hovering like helicopters." These details help to create a vivid picture of the setting, and they also contribute to the poem's overall atmosphere.

While "The Government Lake" is a deeply personal collection, it also explores universal themes that will resonate with readers of all ages. In the poem "The Archaeologist," for example, Kizer writes about the "fossils of our lives" that we leave behind. This poem speaks to the human desire to leave a lasting legacy, and it also reminds us of the ephemeral nature of life.

Kizer's poems are often full of pain and loss, but they are also full of hope and resilience. In the poem "The Blessing," she writes:

I have been given a blessing:
To know the pain of loss,
And still to go on living.

These lines express the poet's belief that even in the face of great loss, we must continue to live our lives. This is a powerful and inspiring message, and it is one that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading the book.

"The Government Lake: Last Poems" is a remarkable collection of poetry that explores the complexities of human life. Kizer's poems are honest, intelligent, and witty, and they are full of vivid imagery and evocative details. This is a book that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading it.

About Carolyn Kizer

Carolyn Kizer (1925-2014) was an American poet who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the National Book Award for Poetry. She was born in Spokane, Washington, and she graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and Columbia University. Kizer taught at several universities, including the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and the University of California, Berkeley.

Kizer's poetry is known for its honesty, intelligence, and wit. She wrote about a wide range of subjects, including love, loss, and the passage of time. Her poems are often deeply personal, but they also resonate with universal themes that will speak to readers of all ages.

Kizer was a prolific writer, and she published over 20 books of poetry. Her work has been translated into over 20 languages. She was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Poets.

Kizer died in Sonoma, California, in 2014. She is survived by her husband, Donald Justice, and her two children.