
BY MARIANNE MOORE
PEDANTIC LITERALIST
TO A STEAM ROLLER
DILIGENCE IS TO MAGIC AS PROGRESS IS TO FLIGHT
THOSE VARIOUS SCALPELS
FEED ME, ALSO, RIVER GOD,
TO WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS ON TAGORE
HE MADE THIS SCREEN
TALISMAN
BLACK EARTH
The collection opens with a daring mix of bold statements and delicate images, inviting listeners into a world where everyday objects become metaphysical puzzles. From the mechanical whisper of a steam roller to the lyrical chant of a river god, each poem twists language into unexpected forms, balancing razor‑sharp wit with lingering melancholy. The poet’s voice feels both scholarly and mischievous, echoing the avant‑garde magazines where many of these pieces first appeared.
In the first dozen poems, she probes themes of progress, art, and identity, often juxtaposing industrial progress with ancient myth. The cadence shifts from tightly structured enjambments to airy, fragmentary lines, making each piece feel like a brief conversation with a curious stranger. Listeners will find themselves untangling vivid metaphors while savoring the playful rhythm that rewards repeated listening.
Language
en
Duration
~25 minutes (24K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Paul Marshall, Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2020-08-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1887–1972
A leading voice in American modernist poetry, this sharp-eyed writer became famous for exact language, unusual forms, and a wit that could be both playful and piercing. Her poems often turn close observation—especially of animals, art, and everyday life—into something surprising.
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