What You Want

Maureen N. McLane's new collection of poems, "What You Want," is a bravura collection of perceptive poetic meditations on the sea, aging, love, and the climate crisis. The book is filled with landscapes, mindscapes, and shifting moods, and is sensitive, lyrical, and alert to seasons and pressures on our shared life. It is a voyage through lambent autumns and shining winters, in which an eye looks out on what it longs for, what it loves, and asks: will it survive the coming heat?

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Maureen N. McLane is a Romantic poet who transcends time with her passionate, erudite, and sensuous verse. Her work delves into the deepest currents of human emotion, offering a profound exploration of the human experience. Sarah Howe, a renowned poet, describes McLane as her favorite living poet, praising her work for its vibrant life, feeling, and argument.

In her latest collection, "What You Want," McLane takes readers on a captivating journey through landscapes, mindscapes, and shifting moods. The poems in this book are filled with vivid imagery, capturing the essence of nature and human existence. From the gulls and harbors of the coast to the blinking red lights and empty lobster traps, McLane's poems evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity. She explores the delicate balance between human presence and the natural world, highlighting the complexities and tensions that exist between us and our environment.

Sensitive, lyrical, and alert to the seasons and pressures on our shared life, McLane registers and gives form to an ambient unease. She draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, from Sappho to Constable, from constellations to microplastics. "What You Want" is a collection that is as alive to the cosmos as it is to our moment, offering a profound reflection on the human condition and our place in the world.

Through her poetic meditations, McLane invites us to explore the complexities of love, aging, and the climate crisis. She questions the nature of desire and longing, exploring the ways in which we navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life. With her poetic voice, she offers a sense of hope and resilience, reminding us of our ability to survive and thrive in the face of adversity.

"What You Want" is a remarkable achievement by Maureen N. McLane, a poet who continues to push the boundaries of language and expression. Her work bristles with life, feeling, and argument, leaving a lasting impact on readers and inspiring a new generation of poets. This book is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of human experience and to offer a glimpse into the mysteries of the world around us.

Weight: 102g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802063141