Immerse yourself in the profound world of poetry with 'The Clearing,' a groundbreaking debut collection by Allison Adair, awarded the prestigious 2020 Max Ritvo Poetry Prize. This trade paperback edition, published in 2022 by Milkweed Editions, presents a compelling exploration of themes such as violence, vulnerability, and the quest for tenderness. Adair's remarkable voice navigates the complexities of existence, drawing readers through lush, musical lines that illuminate the truths of life. Each poem serves as a vessel, carrying powerful feminist viewpoints and emotional depth, ensuring each page resonates with both beauty and unease.

In 'The Clearing,' the poems traverse time and space, moving from the Civil War to contemporary anxieties, revealing how history shapes the present. Adair masterfully captures the essence of being hollowed out, echoing the struggles of women who understand the weight of their experiences. Rich imagery accompanies profound insights as she asks unsettling questions that stay with the reader, such as what remains when one has lost everything.

This collection not only showcases Adair's poetic prowess but also acts as a mirror for those who wish to reflect on the dirts beneath our nails, offering a journey toward understanding ourselves on a deeper level. Read 'The Clearing' to experience an alchemical feat that transforms horror into beauty and leaves a lasting impact. With shipping available for free, your order will arrive in up to 6 weeks after purchase, enhancing your home library with artful and thought-provoking literature. Note that once your order is placed, it cannot be canceled.

Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781639550234
Format: Trade paperback (US)
Year: 2022
Publisher: Milkweed Editions


Description:


Winner of the 2020 Max Ritvo Poetry Prize, The Clearing navigates the ever-shifting poles of violence and vulnerability with rich imagination and a singular incisiveness, “asserting feminist viewpoints and mortal terror in lush musical lines” (New York Times).



The women in Allison Adair’s debut collection—luminous and electric from the first line to the last—live in places that have been excavated for gold and precious ores. They understand the nature of being hollowed out, of being “the planet’s stone / core as it tries to carve out one secret place and fails.” And so, as these poems take us from the midst of the Civil War to our current era, they chart fairy tales that are at once unsettling and painfully familiar, never forgetting that cruelty compels us to search for tenderness. “What if this time,” they ask, “instead of crumbs the girl drops / teeth, her own, what else does she have.”



Adair sees the dirt beneath our nails, both alone and as a country, and pries it gently loose until we remember something of who we are, “from before . . . from a similar injury or kiss.” There is a dark tension in this work, and its product is wholly “an alchemical feat, turning horror into beauty” (Boston Globe).