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In her new collection, renowned publisher and poet Rebecca Wolff voyages in the myopia of American consumer consciousness—erotic regard, spiritual FOMO, gentrification, branding—without destination.
Labyrinthine in their paradoxical musings and incisive in their witty recriminations, these poems grapple with the hubris and dysmorphia of the soul. Wolff is a poet that is unafraid to be a querent, not only of sages (“I only hang out with people / who are psychic / anything else is a / waste of precious / continuity”) but of language itself (“How else is one to know how to proceed / How is one to make a motion against— / electric word life”) In Slight Return, the journey is infinite and elusive—aspiring in the best way toward a point of diminishing returns and withholding any promise of a comfortable landing.
"Wolff's [poetry has] nervy, controlled lyric bursts....Nearing yet swerving from bathos, [she is a poet with] a gift for shrewd summings-up."—Chicago Tribune
"In a space where "It all happens so fast—/ ovulation, creation, cremation," a variety of poses, or figments, may seem all that is left. Wolff's poems manage to make embracing them seem like a genuine possibility."—Publishers Weekly
1
The character of something
experiment in voice and character #1
Experiment in Divination: Voice and Character
experiment in voice and character #3
Experiment in Voice and Character: “In the absence of general literacy
Experiment: Institutional Critique
The Narrative of Their Execution/The Execution of Their Narrative
2
On Sunday I Water the Plants
if I were more orderly
I am the _____________
Objective Reality Can Take Care of Itself
Like all my enthusiasms
Raga You Bet
The Big Pic is a Total Art Shot
Scales have fallen from my eyes
The Singing Revolution
The Lens of Porcelain
Slight Return
3
Corrective: A Companion
What’s with the arid ground
context is everything
That’s not how my imagination works
Austerity Rabbit Cage
Will you disassociate with me?
Political Animals
Halloween
The supernatural
4
rock heart
This was almost more excitement
This = This
There is Nothing Like a Good Shit
Up Close & Personal
Cheerful whistling of the kettle
Why do you inspire
Peak Experience
Okay, so
Minus the Supernatural
Reincarnations
Class Clown
I know what I’ll do I’ll pretend you’re dead
I am always trying to amuse you
Yet another perfect example of how it’s not all about me 64
5
Institutional Memory: check your head
Protecting my interests
In your recent campaign against me
An Insult to Biology
My Lawyer Said That I Should Call Her
I was, objectively, a happier person, when I was with you.
Visiting Friends
6
Shame on you for thinking people can’t change
If I wanted something exquisite
Dear Jen
Why don’t you go down to Florida and look for your daddy
How do you objectify the day
You are perfect for me
Was It Hubris
It’s like kissing a dead man
Why I am not a Buddhist
Wizard of the Western World
Start A Book
Ant Life