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A review by jarrahpenguin
Collected poems by Jane Kenyon
5.0
Jane Kenyon's collected poetry makes up a fairly hefty volume that can be devoured or savored in small servings. Kenyon's work is meditative and much of it focuses on nature and life in a farming community, describing the changes of the seasons in intimate detail. Progressing through her work chronologically you can see her themes diversify, bringing in more childhood memory and poems about travel, social issues, and mortality and loss. You can also see her really hone her skills so many of her later poems read as real masterworks.
The collection ends with 20 poems that Kenyon worked to translate, by Russian poet Anna Akhmatova. Kenyon's introduction to these poems is helpful to provide context both on Akhmatova's life and the challenge translating both her rhyme and meter and her images into English. Ultimately Kenyon decided to prioritize English and as such, while you know you have lost something of Akhmatova's craft, you get a true sense of her genius with imagery and word choice.
The collection ends with 20 poems that Kenyon worked to translate, by Russian poet Anna Akhmatova. Kenyon's introduction to these poems is helpful to provide context both on Akhmatova's life and the challenge translating both her rhyme and meter and her images into English. Ultimately Kenyon decided to prioritize English and as such, while you know you have lost something of Akhmatova's craft, you get a true sense of her genius with imagery and word choice.