Timeline of Poetry

Poetry

* Sleeping with One Eye Open (1964)
* Reasons for Moving (1968)
* Darker (1970)
* The Story of Our Lives (1973)
* The Sargentville Notebook (1973)
* The Late Hour (1978)
* Selected Poems (1980)
* The Continuous Life (1990)
* Dark Harbor (1993)
* Blizzard of One (1998)
* Chicken, Shadow, Moon & More (1999)
* Man and Camel (2006)
* New Selected Poems (2007)

Awards

Each year links to its corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:

• 1960–1961: Fulbright Fellowship
• 1979: Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets
• 1987: MacArthur Fellowship
• 1990–1991: Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress
• 1992: Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry
• 1993: Bollingen Prize
• 1999: Pulitzer Prize, for Blizzard of One
• 2004: Wallace Stevens Award

SLEEPING WITH ONE EYE OPEN

Unmoved by what the wind does,
The windows
Are not rattled, nor do the various
Areas
Of the house make their usual racket–
Creak at
The joints, trusses, and studs.
Instead,
They are still. And the maples,
Able
At times to raise havoc,
Evoke
Not a sound from their branches
Clutches.
It’s my night to be rattled,
Saddled
With spooks. Even the half-moon
(Half-man,
Half half dark), on the horizon,
Lies on
Its side casting a fishy light
Which alights
On my Floor, lavishly lording
Its morbid
Look over me. Oh I feel dead,
Folded
Away in my blankets for good,
and
Forgotten.
My room is clammy and cold,
Moonhandled
And weird. The shivers
Wash over
Me, shaking my bones, my looses ends
Loosen,
And I lie sleeping with one eye open,
Hoping
That nothing, nothing will happen

Strand always seems to talk about how either he is disrupting everything around him or everything around him is disrupting him. Within "Sleeping With One Eye Open", he is worried of what might dirupt or harm him. He hopes that "nothing will happen", and therefore relays an underlying meaning within the poem. He is scared of chance, scared of something new. Strand uses one word lines to relay important words and allow their meaning to be absorbed by the readers. Perhaps one of the most important one worded lines is "Forgotten." Does he want to truly be forgotten? Does he really want nothing to happen? Or is he just scared of the outcome.

The New Poetry Handbook by Mark Strand

1 If a man understands a poem,
he shall have troubles.

2 If a man lives with a poem,
he shall die lonely.

3 If a man lives with two poems,
he shall be unfaithful to one.

4 If a man conceives of a poem,
he shall have one less child.

5 If a man conceives of two poems,
he shall have two children less.

6 If a man wears a crown on his head as he writes,
he shall be found out.

7 If a man wears no crown on his head as he writes,
he shall deceive no one but himself.

8 If a man gets angry at a poem,
he shall be scorned by men.

9 If a man continues to be angry at a poem,
he shall be scorned by women.

10 If a man publicly denounces poetry,
his shoes will fill with urine.

11 If a man gives up poetry for power,
he shall have lots of power.

12 If a man brags about his poems,
he shall be loved by fools.

13 If a man brags about his poems and loves fools,
he shall write no more.

14 If a man craves attention because of his poems,
he shall be like a jackass in moonlight.

15 If a man writes a poem and praises the poem of a fellow,
he shall have a beautiful mistress.

16 If a man writes a poem and praises the poem of a fellow overly,
he shall drive his mistress away.

17 If a man claims the poem of another,
his heart shall double in size.

18 If a man lets his poems go naked,
he shall fear death.

19 If a man fears death,
he shall be saved by his poems.

20 If a man does not fear death,
he may or may not be saved by his poems.

21 If a man finishes a poem,
he shall bathe in the blank wake of his passion
and be kissed by white paper.

These humorous and oxymoroic "rules" illustrate a passionate and funny side to Strand. This poem is once again mainly about his own take on life, his own principles he feels he must share with others. It is also interesting that in his poetry he writes mainly about poetry, highlighting the fact that poetry is entirely his life and his passion. At first he focuses on the many drawbacks to poetry, the "troubles" one faces when understanding and acknowledging poetry. As the poem continues, it also shares some of the wondorous and amazing things poetry can do for a person. He uses numbering to highlight the irony of poetry, how it is art yet can have so many rules and guidelines that make it almost mathematical. He has 21 rules, a number extremely significant when speaking of luck. Perhaps he feels lucky to be able to express himself with poetry and knows the euphoric experience felt when finishing a poem.

Lines For Winter by Mark Strand

Tell yourself
as it gets cold and gray falls from the air
that you will go on
walking, hearing
the same tune no matter where
you find yourself --
inside the dome of dark
or under the cracking white
of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow.
Tonight as it gets cold
tell yourself
what you know which is nothing
but the tune your bones play
as you keep going. And you will be able
for once to lie down under the small fire
of winter stars.
And if it happens that you cannot
go on or turn back and you find yourself
where you will be at the end,
tell yourself
in that final flowing of cold through your limbs
that you love what you are.

 

This inspirational poem is almost giving advice to the audience. When in a depression, or perhaps near death, both symbolized by the snowy walk the speaker is taking, one must not forget who they are and why they are important. In times of fear and pain, we tend to lose our sense of being and worth, and wonder why we bother living. Within "Lines of Winter" Strand explains the "tune your bones play", or rather memories of your happy memories and memories that have made you what you are today. Strand uses imagery in a few special spots, the "cracking white of the moons gaze" paints a vivid picture. It almost makes death or depression not as scary, by relating it to an object we all find comforting.

So You Say by Mark Strand

It is all in the mind, you say, and has
nothing to do with happiness. The coming of cold,
the coming of heat, the mind has all the time in the world.
You take my arm and say something will happen,
something unusual for which we were always prepared,
like the sun arriving after a day in Asia,
like the moon departing after a night with us.

Whats interesting about this poem is it has nothing to do with Strand's thoughts, it is based only on his significant other. Obviously this person is so important within the speakers life that he trusts them with his entire being, his entire state of mind allowing them to "take my arm and say something will happen". There is a sense of isolation in the couple, within the last line it refers to the moon spending a "night with us", as if the moon is there only for them. They seem to be living in their own world, making up their own rules and basing things off each other. The speaker uses repetition a few times almost in a soothing nature. The speaker's significant other tends to use two examples of use, as to illustrate her point in a evidential way.

Courtship by Mark Strand

There is a girl you like so you tell her
your penis is big, but that you cannot get yourself
to use it. Its demands are ridiculous, you say,
even self-defeating, but to be honored, somehow,
briefly, inconspicuously in the dark.

When she closes her eyes in horror,
you take it all back. You tell her you're almost
a girl yourself and can understand why she is shocked.
When she is about to walk away, you tell her
you have no penis, that you don't

know what got into you. You get on your knees.
She suddenly bends down to kiss your shoulder and you know
you're on the right track. You tell her you want
to bear children and that is why you seem confused.
You wrinkle your brow and curse the day you were born.

She tries to calm you, but you lose control.
You reach for her panties and beg forgiveness as you do.
She squirms and you howl like a wolf. Your craving
seems monumental. You know you will have her.
Taken by storm, she is the girl you will marry. 

 

This poem is extremely funny, and what is so ironic is that Strand uses the title, "Courtship". When first looked at it would seem this poem is about a romantic affair in which a lady is courted. However, once read this is obviously not the case. He uses abnormal line breaks "that you don't/ know what got into you." It shows the speaker thinking on the spot, the awkwardness of the situation, and as he tries to scramble around for something to say to win the girl over. He also uses second person, which allows readers to feel as though they are within the poem. It could be releatable to many men (i'm assuming) and by adding the "you" aspect Strand accentuates the awkwardness and horribleness of the situation.

Eating Poetry

Eating Poetry by Mark Strand

Ink runs from the corners of my mouth.
There is no happiness like mine.
I have been eating poetry.

The librarian does not believe what she sees.
Her eyes are sad
and she walks with her hands in her dress.

The poems are gone.
The light is dim.
The dogs are on the basement stairs and coming up.

Their eyeballs roll,
their blond legs burn like brush.
The poor librarian begins to stamp her feet and weep.

She does not understand.
When I get on my knees and lick her hand,
she screams.

I am a new man.
I snarl at her and bark.
I romp with joy in the bookish dark. 

 

"Eating Poetry" allows readers to understand the feeling poetry gives to Strand. It transforms him into a surreal world in which he can be whatever he desires.  This poem is also extremely crucial in understanding Strand's general style. He places normal characters within abnormal settings, therefore foiling the crucial differences between art and society. The librarian symbolizes somewhat of a factual, normal world, in which there is know creativity and she "does not understand". When he frightens her by transforming into a dog he is mocking her and society in a way, for not being able to express themselves like he can as he "romp[s] with joy in the bookish dark." The dog, both in its own form and once the speaker transforms into a canine state, symbolizes guardianship and happiness for poetry and his art.

Answers by Mark Strand

Answers by Mark Strand

Why did you travel?
Because the house was cold.
Why did you travel?
Because it is what I have always done between sunset and sunrise.
What did you wear?
I wore a blue suit, a white shirt, yellow tie, and yellow socks.
What did you wear?
I wore nothing. A scarf of pain kept me warm.
Who did you sleep with?
I slept with a different woman each night.
Who did you sleep with?
I slept alone. I have always slept alone.
Why did you lie to me?
I always thought I told the truth.
Why did you lie to me?
Because the truth lies like nothing else and I love the truth.
Why are you going?
Because nothing means much to me anymore.
Why are you going?
I don't know. I have never known.
How long shall I wait for you?
Do not wait for me. I am tired and I want to lie down.
Are you tired and do you want to lie down?
Yes, I am tired and I want to lie down. 

 Strand uses constant repetition to  stress the erosion of the speaker. Everytime he is asked a question he first gives an easy answer, but when asked again gives the depressing and valid answer. He is obviously experiencing something horrible, and uses a "scarf of pain" to keep himself warm. This is perhaps because of a romantic mishap, given that he first tries to brag about sleeping with woman but finally reveals he slept alone every night. As the questions continue to penetrate the speaker and tire him, readers feel like anxiety and weariness he feels. By the end he is so exhausted from the questions and answers that he must lay down, which is intriguing given he is trying to leave to go somewhere else. He is a bit of a nomad, unsure of where he wants to go. This relays back to the poem "Keeping Things Whole", where the speaker is constantly moving in hopes of not disrupting others for too long. Perhaps this is how the speaker within this poem feels as well, as though he must constantly be moving in order to not disrupt the lives of people around him. However, once asked to express himself and delve into his problems, he is so exhausted by it he stops moving for a second to ponder.

Keeping Things Whole

Keeping Things Whole

In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.


- Mark Strand


Within "Keeping Things Whole" , Strand is commenting on his lack of meaning in life. When the author is around something, everything surrounding is waiting to be put in their proper place, which they cannot do while he is there. He disrupts whatever he touches, whether the air or a field. The air seems to represent a group of people, whether friends, family or strangers is unclear and irrelevant. He goes on through life as almost a sacrifice to everyone else, he realizes the burden he places on them and therefore moves "to keep things whole" and keep people happy.


Strand uses significant line breaks which add to the points he is stressing. Because the lines are so short and concise, it leaves room for empty space in between the words. During these long places it is almost as if Strand himself is disrupting the poem, or air, and moving through quickly and shortly as to not get in the way of the words.

Mark Strand

On April 11th, 1934 in Canada, Mark Strand was brought into the world by a traveling salesman and painter. His fathers profession resulted in Strand's nomadic childhood, in which lived in multiple towns and countries. As he grew his interest in the arts was nearly forced upon him by his mother, leading to his BFA from Yale University(1959) where he studied painting. Shortly after he realized his disinterest in the art, he partook in the Iowa Writers Workshop and earned a Masters in the Fine Arts. His poetry is influenced by European writers such as Kafka, as well as Latin American surrealism. His interpretation of vivid images within his poetry is quite similar to the paintings Edward Hopper. In 1981 The American Academy of Arts and Letters elected Strand a member, and following this he received many grants and prizes, leading to his Pulitzer Prize in 1999. He has written eleven books on poetry and continues teaching at Columbia University.