Reviews for The Secret Meaning of Things

The average rating for The Secret Meaning of Things based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2008-04-07 00:00:00 Vaughn Ford Some thoughts in lieu of a real review..... -- Cliche, but possibly powerful title. -- Nice rhythyms. -- The thing with beat poetry, for me, is that I wish I was hearing it as I read it. In some cases, this destroys the reading. In Ferlinghetti's case, it is still strong enough in written form, but you can tell that there is a musical diction underneath that you need to hear to fully feel. -- A very quick read. Interesting to read in this current political climate. -- Why do I value a "quick read?" Why do I mention it so often in my own reviews? Though I speak of the destruction of the patience through the 'mtv generation,' I am definitely a part of it. I can only elevate myself so far before the hypocrisy shines through like a spotlight.... --My favorite lines are all on page 22: Every day the news gets more surreal and And every day a line of love's battleships is sunk -- I've been thinking lately about the forwards in every year's Best American Poetry volumes where they talk about how 90% of modern poetry is crap. The thing is, they get it right from time to time when they realize that that "good 10%" isn't realized until years and years later. But at the same time, I'm not sure that they have it right. In a way, the U.S. has been undergoing its own poetry renaissance quietly under the surface for about 40 years now. We may, as a whole, be underappreciative of the past and of other cultures' works (which is something I will freely admit that I am guilty of...), but there is a fire. Whether that will yield a generation or two of remembered poets, I do not know, but there has to be some understanding of the vibrance and depth of work being written in the u.s. today... What this has to do with this particular book may be tangential, but that's why this is no review.... -- I feel that Ferlinghetti had what very few present day American poets have... A sense of honest urgency. -- That doesn't mean that he didn't have a bit of hypocrisy himself, just that he wasn't ashamed of it.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-02-12 00:00:00 Jamie Salas I do not pretend to understand even half of what there is to see in poetry. I really do believe that a lot of it is only perceived by the poet. I did enjoy this short book though. I think my favourite piece was Moscow in the Wilderness, Segovia in the snow. When you can get phrases like: I am your ruin unique & immortal I am your happiness unknown I am light where you are dark where you are heavy There was some great imagery in this book.