Hammered Dulcimer

By Lisa Williams

Lisa William's poems are infused with what John Hollander calls "a guarded wonder." A poet of unique vision, she seems always to be "looking at," with special attention to the experience of the senses. Moreover, Williams is equally concerned with epistemology—the how of seeing. And it is perhaps this quality of attention that informs her interest in the formulations of poetry itself, in its constructed dimension. Her control of the line, of rhythmic possibilities, of structures both formal and free, is evident in every poem. Together, William's original voice and her poetic finesse allow her to create those harmonies of wonder evoked by the very instrument, the hammered dulcimer, that gives her collection its name. Judge for the 1998 May Swenson Poetry Award was John Hollander, poet, critic, professor. Long a major figure in American letters, Hollander was a personal friend to May Swenson, and has influenced the work of many of our best emerging poetic voices.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Utah State University Press
• Release date: Jul 1, 1998
• ISBN: 9780874213195

Lisa Williams

Born in Birmingham, England, Lisa Williams makes her home in Los Angeles as well as in the small town of Redditch in picturesque Worcestershire. She lives with her husband, Kevin, and eight-year-old son, Charlie, who, according to his mom, has already shown an inherited gift for natural healing and talking with spirits.

Book preview