A vibrant new collection from one of Americas most talented young poets Every Riven Thing is Christian Wimans first collection in seven years and rarely has a book of poetry so borne the stamp of necessity. Whether in stark haikulike descriptions of a cancer ward surrealistic depictions of a social order coming apart or fluent defiant outpourings of praise Wiman pushes his language and forms until they break open revealing startling new truths within. The poems are joyful and sorrowful at the same time abrasive and beautiful densely physical and credibly mystical. They attest to the human hunger to feel existence even at its most harrowing and the power of art to make our most intense experiences not only apprehensible but transfiguring. show more