Collected Poems

Padgett is hard to find outside of university libraries, which is a shame. He is among the most accessible, most enjoyable poets of the last century. And oh so loveable.

A big book, beautifully printed, full of terrific poems. There is a life's work here, and it's extremely rewarding to follow. A major poet whose work was strong from the start. A book to keep.

Padgett is one of the most original, creative and personal poets we have--a national treasure. His poems draw deeply from his life and loves without a trace of sentimentality, only extraordinary humor and playfulness, the kind that comes with wisdom and close observation but never taking oneself too seriously. This collection of most of his poems over some 40+ years is a major literary event to celebrate.

Perfect poems.

definitely a book for intellectuals, poetry lovers, and just about everyone else! unexpected and intense, enjoyable and experimental - playful!!

One of poetry's great American treasures.

Though I wish his work with other poets was here, this is a wonderful book. Hard to tote around, because of the scope and depth of this collection, it is a joy to have.

Ron Padgett's massive COLLECTED POEMS is quite simply more fun than a barrel of monkeys. I hope that readers who start out feeling as I did that the writing seems too much French-modernist-influenced nonsense will stick with it and before long relax into the great ride of this book -- the work of a poet gifted with play, a sort of genial madness, and ample mischief.You can open the book to almost any page and find delight. I just opened it to page 390 and was returned to his memorable "The Fortune Cookie Man."Padgett assumes a reader's literacy, as when he invokes Donne in a poem that begins with "Turn every whichway, three-cornered God, and butter the cobs with your fury."Critics of William Logan's ilk might say that much of this book is the poetic equivalent of doodling, but I would want to point out that this would simply be a description, not a criticism.A reader may on occasion have to drop back to childhood in order to be in tune with Padgett, as when in THE GIRAFFE section of "Three Animals" he gives us this:"The 2 f''sin giraffeare like2 giraffesrunning throughthe word giraffe.From the improbably titled "The Unwobbling Jello:""I have studied finger painting and general sleuthing, where Mom keeps the kitchen money, but otherwise I spend most of my time in the pool hall, learnin' dirty words."When Padgett leaves us, a perfect memorial for him on the inside front cover of POETRY magazine would be his "Flower's Escape," which opens with:"What have we here, a little daisy alongside the footpath, hmm ..."and closes with:"... and Nat 'King' Cole is telling me I'm unforgettable, which I appreciate, although I know full well I will be forgotten, unless I stay like this, bent over a flower that has fled my touch."NB: At 782 pages, the book does contain some thow-aways. What are we supposed to get from this:IT TURNS OUTI haven't turned outto be the personI hoped I would,but that's justtoo damned bad.That's given a full page to itself, and it's hard to view it as anything other than a waste. We could use a shorter volume of Padgett's discriminatingly selected work.

So pleased I watched Patterson the film as I might never have discovered this poet.... love this book!!!

His poetry features in the film Paterson.

This collection contains his Pulitzer nominated book How Long as well as everything else, including uncollected stuff.