Book

Ignatow, David, 1914-1997.

Living is what I wanted : last poems / David Ignatow.

1st ed.

Rochester, N.Y. : BOA Editions, 1999.

84 pages ; 24 cm

Poems on death. In The Living, he writes: "Death provides the food: / the zebra lay on its side / clawed into silence, / the tigress on her belly / gnawing at the belly / of the zebra with bloody teeth. / And the living zebras / at a distance, head bowed / toward the earth, eat / of the living grass."

American poetry.

American poetry -- 20th century.

Staying alive -- Live to manifest -- Along with our illusion -- As though life were a question -- All living is lying -- An epic -- Fixed or impermanent -- Where I built my house -- The living -- Unless change is a language -- Shadows live in the sun -- One small answer -- Calm in the form of meaning -- Thinking my father's thoughts -- My father blowing his nose -- The life we led together -- Someone of the past -- Hope was the happiness -- For my daughter: 1. I was never so happy -- For my daughter: 2. My daughter, we will not meet -- For my daughter: 3. My daughter's first gray hairs -- The prize -- Vivi -- Cousin Alex -- Family -- At fifty -- To contemplate a difference -- Love notwithstanding -- Living was what I wanted -- I am not for living alone -- Into the circle -- Saying yes to living -- My skeleton, my rival -- My life is not mine -- Identification -- I am to myself -- At eighty I change my view -- Make of me its purpose -- I accept -- Atlas -- Stones will pay me heed -- Presence in an empty room -- Meat is my comfort -- Out of focus -- Joy of flight -- A sound like any other -- It's my life -- My wholeness is dependent -- The live match -- Born to know suffering -- The flame lights up -- Something hopeful -- The old poet -- How I learned to be with others -- To be a poet -- Life in the volcano -- Where if not in words -- I'm not yet convinced -- Friendship enough -- The spirit may enter -- Circling the silence.

Publisher description

99072449

1880238772

9781880238776

1880238780

9781880238783

42645715

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811 Ignatow