Writing in the expanded field 19821998, an anthology of works on key issues in poetics first published in poetics journal, coedited by hejinian and. Her most recent published book of poetry is saga circus 2008. Lyn hejinian was born in the san francisco bay area in 1941. Her most recent book is the unfollowing omnidawn books, 2016. Lyn hejinian the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn, 2012 by. Many thanks to jacket2 and charles bernstein for drawing our attention to lyn hejinians lastest. Belladonna will bring out her prose work, positions of the sun, in 2017. In fall 2012, wesleyan university press published a guide to poetics journal. First published in 1980, and revised in 1987 and 2002, my life is now firmly established in the postmodern canon. Streaming video, audio recording see the kelly writers house calendar entry for more about this event. Her mother, carolyn erskine hall, had grown up on kodiak island, alaska and was an aspiring violinist. She is also the author of a book of essays, the language of inquiry 2000. Many of the poems touch on the idea of sleep or lack thereof, and one is. A dream still clinging like light to the dark roundingthe gap left by things which have already happenedleaving nothing in their place may have.
Lyn hejinian is the author of numerous books, including most recently the book of a thousand eyes and the wide road, written in. The book of a thousand eyes to achieve reality by lyn hejinian. I cant wait to see what story i hear during the next foray into this poem. The book of a thousand eyes lyn hejinian full stop. Nonetheless, the poems are tightly formed, impeccably constructed, with a tonal precision and continuity that remains one of hejinians hallmarks.
She is the author of many poetry collections, including my life and my life in the nineties. This is what gives it the character of a compendium. The gap left by things which have already happened. Lyn hejinian reading from the book of a thousand eyes 8. Though they may not be redemptive in effect, the diverse works that comprise the book of a thousand eyes argue for the possibilities of a merry, pained, celebratory, mournful, stubborn commitment to life. The book of a thousand eyes boulder public library.
Jean day a third of the way into the book of a thousand eyes comes the question, isnt sleep fitted to this world. Npr coverage of the book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian. She is the author of writing is an aid to memory 1978, my life 1980, 1987, 2002, happily 2000, and the fatalist 2003. She has published over a dozen books of poetry and numerous books of essays as well as two volumes of translations from the. Lyn hejinian teaches at the university of california, berkeley. Though they may not be redemptive in effect, the diverse works that comprise the book of a thousand eyes argue for the possibilities. One key frame of the book is dreams and there are many poems that have the quality of dreams whether madeup or created in sleep. Poet, essayist, and translator, she is also the author and coauthor of several books of poetry, most. The book of a thousand eyes a dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding by lyn hejinian. Lyn hejinian born may 17, 1941 is an american poet, essayist, translator and publisher. Lyn hejinian is a poet, essayist, teacher, and translator. The book of a thousand eyes npr coverage of the book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian. She is the author of of over twenty volumes of poetry and critical prose, including several poetry collections previously published by omnidawn.
The book of a thousand eyes a dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding lyn hejinian 1941 a dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding the gap left by things which have already happened leaving nothing in their place, may have nothing to do but that. Poetry explorer classic contemporary poetry, after, by. She served as a chancellor of the academy of american poets from 20062012. Hejinians last collection before this one, the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn, 2012, exhibited great formal range. Dreams are like ghosts achieving ghosts perennial goal. Other volumes include the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn books, 2012 and the wide road, written in collaboration with carla harryman belladonna, 2010. The poems explore and play with languages of diverse stages of consciousness and realms of. A dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding. From time of tyranny by lyn hejinian the poetry project. But if the collection lacks or glosses over the nightmarish or ecstatic, its a conscious choice on hejinians part. The 12th collection from poet, essayist, and translator hejinian the book of a thousand eyes offers a short russian novel modeled after pushkins eugene onegin. The poems explore and play with languages of diverse stages of consciousness and realms of imagination. Written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as.
Lyn hejinian born may 17, 1941 is an american poet, essayist, translator and publisher, often associated with the language poets hejinian was born in the san francisco bay area and lives in berkeley, california with her husband the composermusician larry ochs. Lyn hejinians my life is one of the foundational texts of language poetry. Lyn hejinian born in the san francisco bay area in 1941, lyn hejinian is known for her meditative and introspective style of writing. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.
The book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian goodreads. Hejinians sallies are at once pragmatic, mysterious, and an utter delight to read. Lyn hejinian is the author of numerous books, including most recently the book of a thousand eyes and the wide road, written in collaboration with carla harryman. Her poetry is characterized by an unusual lyricism and descriptive engagement with the everyday. Her most recent book, the book of a thousand eyes, is forthcoming in april 2012. With its declarative dedication to scheherazade, the collection works to. Poet lyn hejinian, a fifth generation californian, was born on may 17, 1941 at a naval hospital in alameda, california. She has also worked in collaborativelyauthored projects, including sight with leslie scalapino, 1999 and the wide road with carla harryman, 2010. Written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as an homage to scheherazade, the heroine of the arabian nights who, through her nightly taletelling, saved her culture and her own life by teaching a powerful and murderous ruler to abandon cruelty in favor of wisdom and benevolence. The unfollowing, the book of a thousand eyes, saga circus, and the fatalist. The book of a thousand eyes i love says the acrobat by. Lyn hejinian the book of a thousand eyes omnidawn, 2012. Poet, essayist, translator, and publisher lyn hejinian is a founding figure of the language poetry movement of the 1970s and an influential force in the world of experimental and avantgarde poetics. Poet, essayist, and translator, she is also the author and coauthor of several books of poetry, most recently tribunal omnidawn publishing, 2019.
The book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian book 5 editions published. Hejinians book is a compendium of night workslullabies, bedtime stories. My life and my life in the nineties by lyn hejinian. And the easy answerabundantly yesboth masks and unveils the bigger shape.
Lyn hejinian teaches the university of california, berkeley. The book of a thousand eyes by harriet staff poetry foundation. Streaming video, audio only 54 minutes individual poems. The book of a thousand eyes by lyn hejinian, paperback. The book of a thousand eyes is the culmination of two decades work for lyn hejinian, and it has been anticipated by some of her readers at least since the 1996 publication of a little book of a thousand eyes. Her compendium of night works titled the book of a thousand eyes will appear in the early spring of 2012 from omnidawn.
Leaving nothing in their place, may have nothing to do. Hejinians book is a compendium of night workslullabies, bedtime. The book of a thousand eyes a dream, still clinging like. Lyn hejinian is the author of a border comedy, and the book of a thousand eyes, among many other books. The book of a thousand eyes a dream, still clinging like light to the dark, rounding poem by lyn hejinian. Lyn hejinian is currently considered a single author. Written over the course of two decades, the book of a thousand eyes was begun as an homage to scheherazade, the heroine of the arabian nights who, through her nightly taletelling, saved her culture. Lyn hejinian pennys poetry pages wiki fandom powered. The book of a thousand eyes never documents that magnetic terror, that finality of endless consequence that my dreams, at least, often carry. But isnt midnight intermittent by lyn hejinian poetry.