The Wild Braid: A Poet Reflects on a Century in the Garden

Life wisdom from a gardener, poet, and translator in his late 90s. It doesn't get much more basic, or better, than this.

Stanley Kunitz is one hundred years old this year and, if that it's not enough reason to rejoice, he's also published a book, thoughtfuy aided by Genine Lentine, in which he shares his two loves, gardening and writing poetry. And if I name these two passions of Kunitz's in such order is because the garden is at the center of his thought here. Accompanied by interesting photographs -some are remarkable portraits of Stanley- Kunitz words tell the story of his legendary Provincetown garden, and in the process he offers those lessons to his poetic insight. The result is a brief book of love for craft, in this case what caring after trees teaches you and what writing a poem entails and demands from his maker. I'm honored and elated to be reading some new words from such wise elder of the poetic word.

This book by Stanley Kunitz and his collaborator is a powerful testament to the power of the garden. In short antedotes and blazing poetry this book kept me riveted. In a quiet voice it proclaims the life of one man and his love of gardening.

I WAS SO ENTRANCED BY THE POETRY AND REVERIES IN A GARDEN BY THE ONE AND ONLY STANLEY KUNITZ. THIS BOOK IS NOT ONLY FOR LOVERS OF POETRY BUT ALSO FOR LOVERS OF TRANQUILITY AND BEAUTY. I URGE YOU TO STEP INTO THIS NATURAL WORLD OF DAYDREAMS PUNCTUATED BY FLOWERS.

I was back "home" with my folks this weekend and my dad really has been enjoying this book (shipped to him for Father's Day)as well. Mr. Kunitz reflections on his amazing life experience are outstanding. I fell in love with the book as well. Definitely give it 5 stars. Enjoy :)

Dinitia Smith interviewed Stanley Kunitz and Genine Lentine about this book. Her article appears in the NY Times Book- Review. In this article Kunitz speaks about the making of the book, about poetry, about gardening. The most moving part of the interview was a poem which he read to Smith, a poem written for his wife who died two years ago at the age of ninety- three. He read the poem to Smith, and she comments in the middle. Summer is late, my heart. Words plucked out of the air some forty years ago when I was wild with love. He came to the poem's haunting conclusion: Darling, do you remember the man you married? Touch me, remind me who I am. I was moved by the poem. It is also moving to think of someone reaching one - hundred years of age, and still writing poetry. Kunitz says that he understands the necessity of death as the world would become just ' old wrecks' were everyone to go on without end. He speaks as Borges does of wanting to become 'language' or ' part of the language'. Aside from the poetry I believe many people will want to possess this book simply because it in some way represents a triumph of the human spirit and will. "We who are so young, have neither seen so much, nor lived so long."