The Burning of Troy

I can easily imagine two inappropriate responses to this new collection of poetry by Richard Foerster: first, the classical illusion in the title might put some readers off as a suggestion of historical abstraction and academic stuffiness. Second, there are the distinterested blurbs that describe it as a book of poems on grief and loss; and potential readers might put it aside, after mentally insereting "yet another" before "book of poems on grief and loss." BUT THEY COULDN'T MAKE A BIGGER MISTAKE. Three events happened in the poet's life nearly simultaneously: the loss of his partner of 15 years, the winning of a large travel grant which he parlayed into a world tour and, on his return, 9/11. This strong, affecting volume of mostly one-page lyrics marries the best of an appreciation for the poets and poetry that have gone before us, and Richard Foerster's responsibility to speak to himself and his contemporaries openly and honestly on the role of private grief in the context of pulbic tragedy. By striking that flint on this steel, Foerster creates line after line that I wish I had committed to memory, both for their stunning elegance and for their raw, human vulnerability. Richard Foerster writes strong poetry. Poets should read Foerster's book because he reminds us that the task before us is doable if we work steadily and hard at it; lovers of poetry should read his book because it will inspire them with the knowledge that good English poetry is not the exclusive possession of the Elizabethans and the Victorians. Yes, there are great poets writing now. BOA publishes many of them. This 100th volume in the BOA series is a perfect example.