Here this master of the book-length poem constructs a long poem different from other long poems of his, at the height of his command over poetics. This is a book of thoughts; he prefers the word in a conceptual space over the word as image. He also has a crazy sense of humor. Sections of this long poem are sectioned into very small units, & the form of 2-line stanzas is almost (but not quite) constanr throughout the book. The poems move as you would imagine the sphere on the cover would roll -- with a steady, hard arcing sound. I don't know this for sure yet, but I have a feeling Ammons liked associating his poetry with spheres so much because spheres are the shapes with the greatest surface area to volume ratio, & his words are just as voluminous in their terseness. In other news, his poetry in this book is its own very exciting avant-garde. Until his death on 25 Feb, 2001, more & more throughout his life, he was always creating wholly new spaces for poetry to move through. This his last book keeps moving.

The writing in this book all bears Ammons's mark of experimental, architectonic genius. He writes with severe intellect & a kooky sense of humor. He tends to prefer abstract thinking to emotion or physical objects or location. Gripping read.

Ammons was a master of the concise lyric, the witty aphorism, and the unusual nature narrative: a dialogue between a man and a mountain, for example. But he shines in his long poems, his book-length poems, of which "Glare" is the final example. The poem enacts the workings of an expansive supple probing ever-restless mind as it turns over all that comes at it centripetally as if it occupied the center of the universe. In a sense he did that as well as any American poet since Robert Frost. That is one measure of his greatness. There are others in the glare of mourning.

People rarely read poetry these days. It is a shame considering that poets like Ammons are out there. Ammons possesses a knack with detail and can make anything spring to life. Consider 'Catalyst'. 'Honor the maggot/ Supreme catalyst/ he spurs the rate of change/ (all scavengers are honorable/ I love them all/ will scribble hard as I can for them'. Only Ammons can write a poem in praise of a maggot and have the reader ready to shout 'Yay, maggots!' by the end. Ammons also has an impressive ability to turn a phrase, such as 'and the wind whipped my throat/ gaming for the sounds of my voice.' Another one of the elements of Ammons poetry is his humor. 'As soon as you stop having trouble getting down to earth you start having trouble getting off the ground.' read one of his shortest poems. 'I Went Out to The Sun' is another great example of humor. 'The moon has been talking about you/ well what is it this time?/ she says it's her own light' I won't lie to you, though. It does drags in parts. Ammons scientific knowledge and his use of technical, while it does provide a certain richness, can get in the way. Another problem is the length of some of the poems included. This is a personal bias, but I HATE long poems. Ammons more than makes up for it, however. EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

I used to own a copy of this, but it got lost along the way. The only poem from it that I remember by name is "Nellie Meyers," which stays with me years later, though I don't know why. I think because it and other parts of the book are nearly completely unguarded, in an innocent way. Perhaps it is on the other end of the spectrum from Glare.

Ammons is a poet who has excelled in free verse in both large and small doses. This collection, drawn from the briefest poems throughout his career, includes many not previously published in book form. The overall arrangement makes the book highly satisfying as a sequential experience,with each little poem part of an overall summing up; but the volume is also quite amenable to being taken up, read about in and put down at will, for those brief moments that may be gainfully filled with poetry. For those interested in nature, philosophy and ironies of life

Published in 1987, this book contains page-length poems selected by the author. You don't read these poems to get a story line, but rather a feeling of place. With Ammons its the precise observation of nature "Bees stopped on the rock", or a "Snow log". There are also mirrors of the self, "of a life that did become" in the poem Easter morning. In some ways, he is a modern Transcendentalist, looking at nature, observing carefully, and looking even deeper. I recommend this book to anyone, and its a good introduction to Ammons.

This book/poem is simply amazing and absolutely beautiful. Get it. Now.

Ammons passed away recently, leaving behind a great body of work. This volume is one of, if not the, best example of his short lyrics. His word-play reflects a deep respect and understanding of the word as well as nature. The publishers chose a great book to republish in honor of his death.

This book is brilliant, & so unique, through & through. Very particular music, with amazing, complex metaphors; a luminous lexus; a solid, earthy grip in the world with settings in real places such as route I-95 in Florida; & even humor. For example, at one moment in the book, there's an archetype which he comments on being "another Archie." His poetry never stops moving. I think his writing, especially this book with all its idosyncrasies & ideas, is very important poetry to know.

I think it's fantastic that Norton has reissued Garbage. It and the earlier Tape for the Turn of the Year are great examples of how the long poem can still be a fun, engaging, page-turner of a genre. Ammons was a crackerjack writer and he is at his best in Garbage. It starts off with an audacious premise - that garbage is a worthy subject for epic poetry. But, the next thing you know, Ammons is making you a believer with his astounding lyricism and exuberance. He then turns his romanticized trash heap into a springboard for a engaging discussion of life, art and the question of what is permanent. Garbage is bursting at the seams with Ammons' wry humor, old-fashioned homespun wisdom and refreshingly self-deprecating honesty about the befuddlement of the human condition. A hoot to read!

In terms of importance and pleasure--perhaps the only meaningful qualities of verse--Garbage is right up there with Harmonium and the Four Quartets. I can think of no other books last century which have had such a profound effect on the art than the aforementioned books of Stevens and Eliot. Garbage is sure to have such an effect for 21st century poets. It has completely transformed my poetry; I can no longer write in a stilted and affected voice. What's more, it has provided me days upon days of intellectual pleasure.

The Ammons line is something totally unprecedented in poetry. Tentative, flippant, musical, supple and tough:

...Mike, the young

kid who does things for us, cut down the
thrift with his weedeater, those little white

flowers more like weedsize more than likely:
sometimes called cliff rose: also got the grass

out of the front ditch now too wet to mow, slashed:
the dispositional axis is not supreme (how tedious)

and not a fiction (how clever) but plain (greatness
flows through the lowly) and a fact (like as not)

Ultimately it is poets who decide which poet achieves greatness and which poet is forgotten. I believe Ammons will influence the coming generation of poets more than anyone else will, and Garbage is sure to play a starring role in this influence.

This book length poem was written with several things in mind. First, the title is literal. Ammons wanted to write a poem confined in length and width by composing the entire poem on a roll of adding machine tape, and the result was a diary of the last part of one year and the beginning of another.

Ammons seems to be at very ease with the notion of composing poetry, bringing forth an informal voice, probably a necessary step for such a long poem with such a purpose, and draws in the reader with a confidence that is refreshing. he breaks down the structure of the poem and uses deceptively simple, and straight forward language to mark the passing of time. Broken by days, Ammon expresses the essence of the poet's mind, allowing for the day's mood to dictate not only tone, but length and scope within the writing.

I feel very at home with this poem. I feel like sitting in a rocker with some classical piano music in the background whenever I open this book. I only regret that cannot find time to read this book as often as I would like. Re-released to coincide with Ammon's book, Garbage, Tape for the turn is a wonderful book with quite a few quiet revelations that will keep you thinking all day long.