Selected Poems, 1946-1985

I'm not entirely sure but I have an awful lot of James Merrill poetry books(he's kind of a favorite) and some of these early poems I think may have been previously unreleased. Someone I know who is an expert thinks they may be just collected differently, but it's nice to discover that his youthful poems were as amazing, in a different way, as his more mature ones! Some of the ones I read chronicle the life of a young gay man. I love his smile on the cover, too! Disclaimer: Have not finished the entire book yet.

Merrill is known for his technical brilliance, even rescuing lost verse forms from obscurity. He has been accused of arch intellectualism, and many readers detect a certain lack of emotion between the lines, but while these criticisms are likely true, lovers of formalist poetry should take the time to read him, for he is marvellous, witty, and urbane. Fans of Stevens, Moore, Ashbery and Bishop will most likely warm to Merrill."Charles on Fire" is a good place to start, but "Lost in Translation", which appears in the collection "Divine Comedies" is my favorite. I have read this poem dozens of times, and will likely never tire of it. And if you're ready for more, by all means, take on "The Changing Light at Sandover", his magnum opus, an eccentric, occult masterpiece.