In his thirtieth collection, Norman Dubie explores human suffering in a narrative not limited by time and space. From the fields of a fallen Jerusalem, to the sci-fi prison of the Ukraine’s Crater Lviv, Dubie has crafted a kaleidoscope of reserved places and experiences throughout history. His ekphrastic work a continual expansion of a legacy seeking to test “the limits of the lyric,” spirals across the boundaries of nonfiction and the surreal, the artistic and the scientific. Normal Dubie reconciles the violence of cobbled streets and abandoned houses with the mysterious hum of the arts, “singing to nearly / everyone who will listen.” This collection pays homage to the voices of classic writers, artists, and scientists, where the likes of Francisco Goya, Paolo Uccello, and the collection’s namesake evaluate this unnerving world, suspected in balanced chaos. Simultaneously solemn and experimental, Dubie’s latest poems embrace his anxieties of aging and death, capturing a haunting sense of wonder that lingers like a cold touch and draws compassion for humanity’s future.
ISBN: 9781556595653
Format: Paperback
Reviews
“Dubie’s uncontested mastery of the lyric poem has… broken into strange and revelatory territory.” ―Judges’ citation, Griffin Poetry Prize
“The reader new to Mr. Dubie’s work is likely to be struck first by the vigor of his forms and the bravery of his language.” ―New York Times
“… one of the most powerful and influential American poets.” ―Washington Post Book World
“Dubie’s poems are works of great beauty, even when they deal with harsh realities.” ―National Poetry Review
“In Dubie’s sphere, anything can happen, and when it does, he brings it to the reader in excruciating and exquisite detail.” ―Library Journal
“Dubie’s poems are unmatched in their incandescent imaginings, gorgeous language, and fearless
tracking of the inexorably turning wheel of existence.” ―Donna Seaman, Booklist
“Dubie’s poetry… is a brave vision of other worlds where human frailty and strength fuse to create a writing unlike any other in American poetry.” ―Bloomsbury Review
“Dubie’s dramatic poetry seeks to represent our deepest moments of perception, struggle, and revelation. Out of his voice come the voices of multitudes. Yet his achievement and vision are singular.” ―American Book Review