The Place One Is

The Place One Is explores the relationship between person, body, and place, showing how changes in the tangible world alter one's vision, posture, vocabulary, and concern for the environment. The poems also wonder at interdependence, considering how lines intersect and continue to connect us to the sea, islands, lagoons, greenery, sky, and space.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 64 pages
Publication date: 06 December 2022
Publisher: Omnidawn Publishing

The Place One Is is a captivating collection of poetry by celebrated poet Martha Ronk, delving into the intricate relationship between person, body, and place. Through her poetic lens, Ronk explores the profound ways in which changes in the physical world shape our perception, posture, language, and emotional connection to the world around us.

In the poem "The Place One Is," Ronk examines the interplay between the individual and the environment. She observes how shifts in the tangible world alter our vision, bodily posture, vocabulary, and concerns, highlighting the example of the dwindling water supply in California. The body's position, its geometry, and the topography of the surrounding land gradually merge, blurring the boundaries between the self and the world. The poem likens the experience of walking on gravel to the dissolution of words into mumbles, and the rusted skeleton of a car on the sand to our own skeletal structure. Ronk emphasizes that disintegration occurs not only in one specific location but is interconnected across spaces.

Throughout the collection, Ronk also explores the concept of interdependence, contemplating how lines intersect and continue to connect us to the sea, islands, lagoons, greenery, sky, and space. The poems shift between two distinct landscapes: the rural landscape in the first part and the overly bright urban world of Los Angeles in the second part.

In the first section, Ronk paints vivid images of the rural landscape, capturing its serenity, beauty, and the delicate balance between human presence and nature. The poems evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia for the natural world, as the poet explores the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of preserving the environment.

In contrast, the second section of the collection takes us into the bustling urban world of Los Angeles. Ronk's poems here capture the frenetic energy, noise, and chaos of the city, highlighting the alienation and disconnection that often accompany urban living. The poems explore the juxtaposition of man-made structures and natural landscapes, as well as the complexities of human relationships in the urban environment.

Through her poetic language and vivid imagery, Martha Ronk invites us to reflect on the profound connections between person, body, and place. The Place One Is is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions, challenge perceptions, and inspire a deeper understanding of our world. This collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty of language and the power of poetry to capture the essence of human experience.

Weight: 122g
Dimension: 226 x 158 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781632431035