Join us on a literary world trip!
Add this book to bookshelf
Grey
Write a new comment Default profile 50px
Grey
Subscribe to read the full book or read the first pages for free!
I want to read the book!
All characters reduced
Small Pointed Things - cover

Sorry, the publisher does not allow users to read this book from the country from which you are connecting.

Small Pointed Things

Erica McAlpine

Publisher: Carcanet Poetry

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Summary

Punctuated by rhyme and shaped by traditional forms, the poems in Small Pointed Things turn encounters with the natural world and scenes from family life into acts of self-discovery. Poignant and funny in equal measure, many of these poems address human concerns by comically reimagining them through the analogous 'lives' of plants and animals – from snowdrops to love-lies-bleeding, manatees to warthogs, scorpions and moths to bats and swallows. Animals and insects provide opportunities for reflection: the difference between bats and swallows unpacks the complexity of spousal relations, two down-and-out warthogs arouse sudden, if unwarranted shame, and a pair of singing blackbirds tenderly expose the secret to marital compatibility and compromise. There are also poems about poetry and ideas, lasting love and grief. Formally deft and classically inspired, with hints of Wordsworth, Frost and Marianne Moore, the poems in Small Pointed Things seek to uncover various forms of knowledge while taking aim, ultimately, at knowingness itself.
'One glimpse of his carapace

will shock us –

brandishing pincers like maracas –

and his sting, the coup de grâce!'

(from 'The Scorpion')
Available since: 04/24/2025.
Print length: 88 pages.

Other books that might interest you

  • Pastors Eat Pwussy Too - cover

    Pastors Eat Pwussy Too

    Quan Millz

    • 0
    • 1
    • 0 
    Nashawna "NuNu" Spearman, a local Chicago native, lives her life by one simple motto: Use what you got to get what you want. She's a certified bad bish that knows how to use her honey to make money. But when her one of her many honey moneymaking plans falls through, she suddenly finds herself having to life normally...for once. The prospect of prison forces her to take a plea deal that requires community service. That's how she ends up in the company of a popular south side of Chicago pastor who is also running for mayor of the city. One thing leads to another, and NuNu finds herself scheming and scamming once again. But will her plan backfire? Find out more in Pastors Eat Pwussy Too!
    Show book
  • Poems Of Peace - cover

    Poems Of Peace

    James Allen

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    Wordsworth held that every true poet was a teacher; and he said, “I wish either to be considered as a teacher, or as nothing.” The poems in this volume are designed to teach; and as instruction is best administered by methods which please while they elevate, the immediate object of these poems is to comfort, to bless, and to make happy; and, being framed on the principles of Truth, I doubt not that they will inspire men to embrace loftier ideals of life, draw them to a closer acquaintance with virtue, and lead them to a more intimate union with that perfect Wisdom whose ways are “ways of pleasantness,” and whose paths are “paths of peace.” 
- James Allen 
In this unusual departure from his usual practical and direct style, Allen here writes a series of thoughtful, reflective and inspirational poems laying out his unique thoughts in a new style.  
Spiritual, secular, and deeply embedded in the genuine practice of faith, the book begins with Eolaus, an extended work following a man struggling through the depths of his spiritual sorrow, comforted and assailed by the vocies of earth and nature.  
------------------------------------- 
James Allen wrote nineteen self-help books combining Buddhism, Confucianism, and classical Christianity between 1903 and 1912. Born to improvrished parents, one of whom was murdered when searching for work in America when Allen was fifteen, he went on to combine the esoteric and philosophical slant of eastern religions with the solid practicality and common-sense approach of a Victorian Englishman from Leicester.
    Show book
  • Poetry: A Symphony of Words - Harmonizing Life's Poignancy - cover

    Poetry: A Symphony of Words -...

    Azhar ul Haque Sario

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    "Poetry: A Symphony of Words" is a profound collection of 81 poems, divided into seven thematic sections. The book covers a wide range of human emotions, experiences, and issues, from grief and loss to self-discovery, politics, and memory. Each poem carries a different title, offering the reader an opportunity to explore the varied themes and insights presented in this book. The sections are thoughtfully arranged to take the reader on a journey that explores the beauty and complexity of life, nature, and the human experience. In some poems, the author shares a sense of loss and absence, while others reveal insights into identity, aging, social and political issues, and the transformative power of poetry. Overall, this book is a must-read for poetry lovers, as it captures the essence of life in all its complexities and beauty.
    Show book
  • It Happened One Night - Adapted from the screenplay & performed for radio by the original film stars - cover

    It Happened One Night - Adapted...

    Mr Punch

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    Mr Punch Presents: IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, the winner of five Oscar’s including Best Picture in 1934, is Frank Capra’s classic romantic comedy, telling the story of a runaway heiress (Claudette Colbert) who falls in love with a cynical reporter (Clark Gable) on a cross-country bus trip across America. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert recreate their roles in this special radio production. 
  
This high-quality audiobook has been re-mastered and re-edited from the original radio broadcast. 
  
Also available as part of the Hollywood Playhouse BOX SET, a collection of 14 Oscar winning ear-movies, adapted from the original screenplays & performed for the radio by many of the original film stars in front of a live studio audience. 
  
These radio dramas were….to become as popular as the movies themselves. Hollywood Movie Memories 
  
This is an excellent audio product that will appeal to the majority of audiobook listeners. Talking Business 
  
A lovely series to add to any film, audio or crime lovers’ collection. Audio World
    Show book
  • Sinuous Heart - cover

    Sinuous Heart

    Fay van Burg

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    In our timeless, fast-paced world, Sinuous Heart delves into the haunting emotional landscapes of our relationships, both romantic and platonic. This poignant poetry collection captures the essence of loneliness that often lingers in empty connections, leaving us yearning for authenticity and companionship.  
Through vivid imagery and heartfelt language, Fay van Burg delves into the struggles of maintaining intimacy and sincerity in a time when distractions abound, and meaningful encounters are fleeting. With lines that pulse with both pain and beauty, Sinuous Heart paints a striking portrait of the heart’s journey, a whirlwind of reality where joy and sorrow exist side by side.  
Readers will find solace in these verses, reflecting on their own emotional battles of the shared human experience when seeking connection in a disconnected world. This collection is a testament to the strength of vulnerability. The words within are an invitation to embrace the complexity of our hearts as we, as one, navigate love, loss, and everything in between.
    Show book
  • When We Talk to God - Prayers and Poems for Black Women - cover

    When We Talk to God - Prayers...

    Sharifa Stevens

    • 0
    • 0
    • 0 
    Read by the author.  
These are prayers for your moments of gratitude and celebration. For your seasons of loss and waiting. For your days when prayers come, not in words but in groans. When We Talk to God, from poet-theologian Sharifa Stevens, captures the arc and the ache of our lives. 
A beautiful interweaving of prayers and poems for Black women, this unique book encourages you to lift up your whole heart and loudest voice to God. And to tell Him about everything; nothing is off-limits. Sharifa's honest and powerful words express prayer and longing through personal experiences and biblical examples. When We Talk to God offers:An invitation to journey through honest lamentation and heartfelt joy to find greater peace in a turbulent worldPoems and prayers exploring topics from job interviews to grief, from braiding hair to feeling invisible, from parenting to dancingValidation and inspiration for Black women of faith, by a Black woman speaking from her life to yoursA relatable and authentic voice that frees you to present your own prayers and praises to the God who hears you, sees you, and loves youA beautiful gift idea for Mother's Day, Grandparents' Day, International Women's Day, spiritual anniversaries, and birthdays 
  
Ideal for Black women of any age and background, When We Talk to God is a balm to your spirit and soul as it urges you to go to God with all of who you are and with everything you can or cannot say.
    Show book