Poems by Paul Mariani

Everyday Transfiguration

A new book of poems by Paul Mariani, illustrated by Barry Moser.Reviewed by D.S. MartinPaul Mariani's latest book, Deaths & Transfigurations, is his first poetry collection since his excellent book The Great Wheel (Norton), which came out in 1996. It is rich with references to literature—particularly to Dante and Gerard Manley Hopkins—and to Scripture. It seems as Mariani ages, his obsession with his past continues to grow.The first two sections of the book take on the overlapping subjects of loss and death. The very first poem begins with a quote from St. Augustine about how our memories cry out for attention, distracting us from our deeper search. In this collection, Mariani meaningfully deals with his memories, and uses them to bridge effectively back to the search. To the extent we are able to see truth in the poet's experiences, we are able to find truth for our own...