Poems

audiobook

Poems

by Marianne Moore

EN·~25 minutes·25 chapters

Chapters

25 total
1

BY MARIANNE MOORE

1:00
2

PEDANTIC LITERALIST

0:43
3

TO A STEAM ROLLER

0:33
4

DILIGENCE IS TO MAGIC AS PROGRESS IS TO FLIGHT

0:43
5

THOSE VARIOUS SCALPELS

1:26
6

FEED ME, ALSO, RIVER GOD,

0:46
7

TO WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS ON TAGORE

0:16
8

HE MADE THIS SCREEN

0:16
9

TALISMAN

0:16
10

BLACK EARTH

2:29

Description

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.

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Details

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.

About the author

Marianne Moore

Marianne Moore

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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