Extasie

The Extasie is a collection of love poems by New Zealand poet John Gallas, drawing inspiration from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, rural traditions of the nineteenth century, and the poetry of John Clare, Wyatt, and Donne. The poems follow the seasons of a revelatory love, capturing the intimacies, forced separations, complexities, and climaxes through vigorous verbs, arresting inversions, and a celebration of the natural world. Gallas's language is marked by a world of process and mutation, transformation about one constant belief, making it unique in its portrayal of rural England and its history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 88 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2021
Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd

The Extasie is a captivating collection of love poems that draws its lyrical essence from the rich tapestry of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, intertwined with the rural traditions of the nineteenth century. Among the spirit guides that inspire New Zealand poet John Gallas are the renowned John Clare and, particularly, Wyatt and Donne, writers who hailed from the wittiest and most ecstatic era of poetry. However, it is the twenty-first century that serves as the book's central setting, with its two parts unfolding in tandem with the seasons of a revelatory love, traversing diverse weathers and poetic forms. The poems follow the chronological order of their composition, allowing readers to experience the intricacies, forced separations, complexities, and climaxes akin to a lyrical fever chart. The natural world is celebrated in these verses, with birds, tides, skies, trees, sheep, planets, and flowers taking center stage as a testament to the wonders of existence. The poet's gaze is perpetually directed outward, seeking to capture the world's essence and the profound intimacy shared between partners. Gallas' language is characterized by vibrant verbs, arresting inversions, a world of continuous process and transformation, where one unwavering belief is constantly transformed. It is a rare feat to find poetry that exudes such ease and familiarity with the intricate details of rural England, particularly the landscapes of Lincolnshire and Norfolk, infused with their own rich histories and a newfound sense of place. The Extasie is a testament to the enduring power of love and the beauty of poetry, transcending time and space to connect hearts and souls.

Weight: 122g
Dimension: 134 x 214 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800170858