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Hopper: Mark Strand

Edwin Cox

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Published in Hopper Mark Strand

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In his latest collection of poems, Hopper, Mark Strand explores the themes of loss, grief, and memory. The poems are written in a spare, evocative style that captures the rawness and beauty of human experience.

Strand's poems are often set in Hopper's paintings, which depict scenes of everyday life that are both familiar and deeply unsettling. In "Nighthawks," for example, Strand writes:

Hopper

by Mark Strand

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4194 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Print length	:	88 pages

The man in the window Is drinking a cup of coffee. He looks out into the night, His face expressionless.
The woman next to him Is reading a magazine. She doesn't notice the man, Or the night.
The third man is asleep, His head resting on the table. He dreams of something else, Something far away.

Strand's poem captures the loneliness and isolation that is often present in Hopper's paintings. The people in "Nighthawks" are all alone, even though they are surrounded by others. They are lost in their own thoughts, and they do not see each other. This sense of isolation is a recurring theme in Strand's poems, which often explore the ways in which we are separated from each other and from ourselves.

In addition to loss and grief, Strand also explores the theme of memory in Hopper. The poems are full of images of the past, both happy and sad. In "The Ice House," for example, Strand writes:

I remember the ice house, The smell of sawdust and straw, The sound of the iceman's tongs.
I remember the taste of ice, Cold and sweet, Melting in my mouth.
I remember the feeling of summer, The sun on my skin, The sound of the birds.

Strand's poem captures the bittersweet nature of memory. The ice house is a place of both joy and sadness. It is a place where Strand spent many happy summers, but it is also a place where he experienced the loss of his childhood. The poem is a reminder that our memories are always with us, even when we would rather forget them.

Hopper is a powerful and moving collection of poems that explores the universal themes of loss, grief, and memory. Strand's poems are written in a spare, evocative style that captures the rawness and beauty of human experience. Hopper is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary poetry.

Praise for Hopper

"Mark Strand's Hopper is a masterpiece of contemporary poetry. The poems are spare, evocative, and deeply moving. Strand explores the themes of loss, grief, and memory with a rare honesty and grace. Hopper is a must-read for anyone interested in the human condition." —Louise Glück, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet

"Mark Strand's Hopper is a haunting and beautiful collection of poems. The poems are set in Hopper's paintings, and they capture the loneliness and isolation that is often present in Hopper's work. Strand's poems are also full of memories, both happy and sad. Hopper is a moving and memorable collection of poems that will stay with you long after you finish reading it." —Billy Collins, former U.S. Poet Laureate

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Hopper

by Mark Strand

4.5 out of 5