University of Pittsburgh Press, 1981 Paper: 978-0-8229-5326-5 | eISBN: 978-0-8229-7893-0 Library of Congress Classification PS3563.E348T78 1981 Dewey Decimal Classification 811.54
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC | REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE
ABOUT THIS BOOK
Trying to Surprise God, Peter Meinke’s second book of poetry, is characterized by an unusual and masterful range of effects, and by Meinke’s unique wit and compassion.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Peter Meinke is emeritus professor of creative writing at Eckerd College. He has published numerous books of poetry, including Scars, Zinc Fingers, Liquid Paper, and The Contracted World:New & More Selected Poems. Meinke is the recipient of many awards, including the Olivet Prize, the Paumanok Award, three Poetry Society of America Awards, the Flannery O’Connor Award, and two NEA Fellowships. In 2009 he was appointed the first Poet Laureate of St. Petersburg, Florida.
REVIEWS
“An entertaining book of impressive versatility, the poems ranging from camp to lyric to growls of protest. It exists in a world where reality is a disgruntled invalid nursed by whimsy and tenderness while being constantly surprised by a troupe of vaudevillians playing pranks.”—Edward Field
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Supermarket
I.
Trout
Trout
Robert Frost in Warsaw
A Blessing
The Ladies Who Shovel the Snow
Letter from Warsaw
II.
Azaleas
Azaleas
Ping-pong
Voyage
Teacups
Happy Hour
Portrait: White on White
A Necessary Bucket
Preacher, Said the General
Elephant Tusks
World Within World
The Death of the Pilot Whales
III.
Lines from Key West
I.
Hero Worship at Key West on the 4th of July
II.
Writing the Great American Poem in Key West
III.
Playing Shuffleboard, Drunk, in Key West, Fla.
IV.
Responding to Criticism in Key West
V.
Looking for Something to Fear in Key West, Fla.
VI.
Trying to Have an Affair in Key West
VII.
Asherah: Sailing Around Key West
VIII.
Wishing He Had a Theory in Key West
IX.
Studying Polish in Order to Answer the Question What Are You Doing in Key West?
X.
The Angel of Death Hovers Over Key West
XI.
The Angel Laughed Out Loud in Key West, Fla.
IV.
Trying to Surprise God
The Poet, Trying to Surprise God
The Hunters: Southeast Africa
The Snake Magician, Nigeria
In Gentler Times
Sonnet on the Death of the Man Who Invented Plastic Roses
Sonnet to a Latin Professor
Candles
Mendel's Laws
V.
The Laughter of Dead Poets
Biography
Myrtle the Turtle
The Laughter of Dead Poets
Greta Garbo Poem #41
To an Athlete Turned Poet
3 Packs a Day
30
The Day Edward Field Came to Dinner
Helen
Death of a Computer Operator
Miss Arbuckle
Threnody
Recipe
Words
The Artist
To a Daughter with Artistic Talent
Advice to My Son
The Mouse You Found
REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE
If you are a student who cannot use this book in printed form, BiblioVault may be able to supply you
with an electronic file for alternative access.
Please have the accessibility coordinator at your school fill out this form.
University of Pittsburgh Press, 1981 Paper: 978-0-8229-5326-5 eISBN: 978-0-8229-7893-0
Trying to Surprise God, Peter Meinke’s second book of poetry, is characterized by an unusual and masterful range of effects, and by Meinke’s unique wit and compassion.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Peter Meinke is emeritus professor of creative writing at Eckerd College. He has published numerous books of poetry, including Scars, Zinc Fingers, Liquid Paper, and The Contracted World:New & More Selected Poems. Meinke is the recipient of many awards, including the Olivet Prize, the Paumanok Award, three Poetry Society of America Awards, the Flannery O’Connor Award, and two NEA Fellowships. In 2009 he was appointed the first Poet Laureate of St. Petersburg, Florida.
REVIEWS
“An entertaining book of impressive versatility, the poems ranging from camp to lyric to growls of protest. It exists in a world where reality is a disgruntled invalid nursed by whimsy and tenderness while being constantly surprised by a troupe of vaudevillians playing pranks.”—Edward Field
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Supermarket
I.
Trout
Trout
Robert Frost in Warsaw
A Blessing
The Ladies Who Shovel the Snow
Letter from Warsaw
II.
Azaleas
Azaleas
Ping-pong
Voyage
Teacups
Happy Hour
Portrait: White on White
A Necessary Bucket
Preacher, Said the General
Elephant Tusks
World Within World
The Death of the Pilot Whales
III.
Lines from Key West
I.
Hero Worship at Key West on the 4th of July
II.
Writing the Great American Poem in Key West
III.
Playing Shuffleboard, Drunk, in Key West, Fla.
IV.
Responding to Criticism in Key West
V.
Looking for Something to Fear in Key West, Fla.
VI.
Trying to Have an Affair in Key West
VII.
Asherah: Sailing Around Key West
VIII.
Wishing He Had a Theory in Key West
IX.
Studying Polish in Order to Answer the Question What Are You Doing in Key West?
X.
The Angel of Death Hovers Over Key West
XI.
The Angel Laughed Out Loud in Key West, Fla.
IV.
Trying to Surprise God
The Poet, Trying to Surprise God
The Hunters: Southeast Africa
The Snake Magician, Nigeria
In Gentler Times
Sonnet on the Death of the Man Who Invented Plastic Roses
Sonnet to a Latin Professor
Candles
Mendel's Laws
V.
The Laughter of Dead Poets
Biography
Myrtle the Turtle
The Laughter of Dead Poets
Greta Garbo Poem #41
To an Athlete Turned Poet
3 Packs a Day
30
The Day Edward Field Came to Dinner
Helen
Death of a Computer Operator
Miss Arbuckle
Threnody
Recipe
Words
The Artist
To a Daughter with Artistic Talent
Advice to My Son
The Mouse You Found
REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE
If you are a student who cannot use this book in printed form, BiblioVault may be able to supply you
with an electronic file for alternative access.
Please have the accessibility coordinator at your school fill out this form.
It can take 2-3 weeks for requests to be filled.
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC | REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE