Diving into the Wreck: Poems 1971-1972

“Diving into the Wreck” (poems 1971-1972) by Adrienne Rich was recommended to me by another poet I found & read during the pandemic. Truly awe-inspiring, thoughtful, & beautiful poetry. I won’t even pretend that I entirely understood all or most of it, but I know that hopefully I’ll learn a little more each time I pick it up again. It asks a lot of questions & makes me interested to find out about quite a few different things. Definitely a poet I want to read more of. I love what Margaret Atwood said in her review of the book in the New York Times Book Review, “One of those rare books that forces you to decide not just what you think about it, but what you think about yourself.” Entirely agree. Isn’t that what reading should do? Writing too. The things we read, watch, etc should encourage us to reexamine what we know, what we thought we knew, & who we are. 💜

You must be willing to dive into your own wreck, get soaking wet, risk getting the bends, and triumph in surviving when you jumpinto Adrienne Rich's poems from the early 70's. If there were no date noted on this book, one could place them in the present.Rich's metaphors hold true even though forty years have passed. Today, my favorite is the one about Talking to the Dead. I think because itreminds us of all those lost to us as we approach year's end: the ones we loved and the ones we didn't even know. It asks what happens to all that love that doesn't stopsimply because the loved one is gone. Does it rush away like water? Flood the land? Does it burn like embers not quite extinguished?On a more universal level, we might think of all the potential wasted in needless death, an interpretation that expresses Rich's precept thatthe personal is always political. Reflecting on all of the levels of Rich's meaning can give us the means to survive our own wrecks and be willingto dive with her.

I bought this book for my mom, and she loved it. The poems are so clear, strong, and moving. It also came promptly, which was important as it was a Christmas present. I was very pleased with this purchase!

Deep, thought provoking. Will take me years to digest this book.

Great book

This is incredible. 10/10.

Adrienne Rich's poetry speaks for itself. She was one of the 20-21st centuries' finest poets. This book is no different from her others.

This was a gift

Highly recommended for its vicious critique of 70s gender & social relations. Sadly just as important and resonant today as it was when first published

If you're buying this thinking the other poems will be like "Diving into the Wreck", they're not. All the rest are much tougher, less lyrical.

NOT MY FAVORITE