The Alphabet of Desire

Barbara Hamby

Orchises Press, Jan 27, 2006 - Poetry - 103 pages

In this sublime and imposing book of poetry, Barbara Hamby races through the circuitous regions of Heaven and Hell, desire and love, giving shape and significance to the strange and the familiar. Her book ignites with a proclamation, "In the beginning was the word, fanning out into syllables, like a deck of cards on a table in Vegas, lovely leafy parts fluttering into atoms and cells, genus and phylum, nouns and verbs; " an easy metaphor for her intoxicating linguistic machinations.

What people are saying

Review: The Alphabet of Desire

User Review  - Anne - Goodreads

Astounding collection--nostalgic, narrative, intelligent, musical, and--best of all--Hamby takes incredibly energetic leaps in her poems, so you start at one place and have no idea where this poem is going to thrust you next. It's a real pleasure to read.

Review: The Alphabet of Desire

User Review  - Karla - Goodreads

Absolutely one of my favorite poets.

Contents

• The ChickenWire Girls: 12
• Hey Udine: 25
• Cruelty: 38
• Laudanum for Everyone: 50
• Uccello Filippo Lippi Leonardo: 63
• Ode to Money: 78
• Ode to Breath: 92

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Alphabet of Desire
• Author: Barbara Hamby
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: Orchises Press, 2006
• ISBN: 1932535101, 9781932535105
• Length: 103 pages
• Subjects: Poetry / American / General