Mark Strand (April 11, 1934 – November 29, 2014) was not just a poet; he was a master of language who navigated the surreal terrains of existence with precision and grace. Born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and raised in various cities across the United States and South America, Strand’s early life was marked by a tapestry of experiences that would later inform his poetic vision.
Strand’s journey into the world of poetry began with a childhood dream of becoming a painter. He pursued this passion at Antioch College, where he earned his BA in 1957, followed by a BFA from Yale University in 1959. However, during his time at Yale, his artistic aspirations shifted. “I was never much good with language as a child,” he once admitted, reflecting on the surprising turn his life took when he embraced poetry instead of paintbrushes.
His first collection, Sleeping with One Eye Open (1964), introduced readers to his unique voice, characterized by a haunting sense of anxiety and foreboding. The poem “Keeping Things Whole” encapsulates the essence of his work: “In a field / I am the absence / of field.” This exploration of absence and identity became a recurring theme in Strand’s poetry, inviting readers to confront the complexities of the self.
Strand’s writing style is often described as surreal, weaving intricate images that evoke both beauty and unease. His later collections, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Blizzard of One (1999), delve deeper into the themes of loss and longing. Critics have noted that his poems often feel like conversations with the self, echoing the uncertainties of human existence.
Throughout his illustrious career, Strand received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Wallace Stevens Award in 2004 and an appointment as the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1990. His influence extended beyond poetry as he taught at esteemed institutions such as Columbia University, where he inspired a new generation of writers.
Strand’s legacy is one of profound introspection and artistic exploration. His works invite readers to ponder the complexities of life, the nature of identity, and the enduring power of poetry. As we reflect on his contributions, we are reminded of the beauty found in absence and the magic woven through the fabric of existence.
If you’re eager to dive into the world of Mark Strand, consider exploring his collections. Each page offers a glimpse into the surreal landscape of his mind, a journey worth taking for any lover of poetry.
The End
Not every man knows what he shall sing at the end,
Watching the pier as the ship sails away, or what it will seem like
When he’s held by the sea’s roar, motionless, there at the end,
Or what he shall hope for once it is clear that he’ll never go back.
When the time has passed to prune the rose or caress the cat,
When the sunset torching the lawn and the full moon icing it down
No longer appear, not every man knows what he’ll discover instead.
When the weight of the past leans against nothing, and the sky
Is no more than remembered light, and the stories of cirrus
And cumulus come to a close, and all the birds are suspended in flight,
Not every man knows what is waiting for him, or what he shall sing
When the ship he is on slips into darkness, there at the end.
-Mark Strand
Curated by Jennifer
