Sample poems included here are excerpted from “Lorine Niedecker: Collected Works” edited by Jenny Penberthy, published by the University of California Press, 2002. Poems reprinted by permission by the University of California Press.
Remember my little granite pail? The handle of it was blue. Think what's got away in my life— Was enough to carry me thru.
Black Hawk held: In reason land cannot be sold, only things to be carried away, and I am old.
Young Lincoln's general moved, pawpaw in bloom, and to this day, Black Hawk, reason has small room.
There's a better shine
on the pendulum
than is on my hair
and many times
.. ..
I've seen it there.
Asa Gray wrote Increase Lapham: pay particular attention to my pets, the grasses.
In moonlight lies
the river passing—
it's not quiet
and it's not laughing.
I'm not young
and I'm not free
but I've a house of my own
by a willow tree.
In the great snowfall before the bomb colored yule tree lights windows, the only glow for contemplation along this road
I worked the print shop right down among em the folk from whom all poetry flows and dreadfully much else.
I was Blondie I carried my bundles of hog feeder price lists down by Larry the Lug, I'd never get anywhere because I'd never had suction, pull, you know, favor, drag, well-oiled protection.
What horror to awake at night
and in the dimness see the light.
Time is white
mosquitoes bite
I've spent my life on nothing.
The thought that stings. How are you, Nothing,
sitting around with Something's wife.
Buzz and burn
is all I learn
I've spent my life on nothing.
I've pillowed and padded, pale and puffing
lifting household stuffing—
carpets, dishes
benches, fishes
I've spent my life in nothing.
Paul
when the leaves
fall
from their stems
that lie thick
on the walk
in the light
of the full note
the moon
playing
to leaves
when they leave
the little
thin things
Paul
The death of my poor father leaves debts and two small houses.
To settle this estate a thousand fees arise— I enrich the law.
Before my own death is certified, recorded, final judgement judged
taxes taxed I shall own a book of old Chinese poems
and binoculars to probe the river trees.
Hear
where her snow-grave is
the You
ah you
of mourning doves
My friend tree I sawed you down but I must attend an older friend the sun
Easter
A robin stood by my porch
and side-eyed
raised up
a worm
Get a load
of April's
fabulous
frog rattle—
lowland freight cars
in the night
Fall
We must pull the curtains— we haven't any leaves
Poet’s work
Grandfather
advised me:
Learn a trade
I learned
to sit at desk
and condense
No layoff
from this
condensery
Now in one year
a book published
and plumbing—
took a lifetime
to weep
a deep
trickle
I knew a clean man but he was not for me. Now I sew green aprons over covered seats. He
wades the muddy water fishing, fall in, dries his last pay-check in the sun, smooths it out in Leaves Of Grass. He's the one for me.
Popcorn-can cover
screwed to the wall
over a hole
so the cold
can't mouse in
Your erudition the elegant flower of which
my blue chicory at scrub end of campus ditch
illuminates
(Excerpt from Lake Superior)
I'm sorry to have missed
Sand Lake
My dear one tells me
we did not
We watched a gopher there
My Life by Water
My life
by water—
Hear
spring's
first frog
or board
out on the cold
ground
giving
Muskrats
gnawing
doors
to wild green
arts and letters
Rabbits
raided
my lettuce
One boat
two—
pointed toward
my shore
thru birdstart
wingdrip
weed-drift
of the soft
and serious—
Water
Far reach
of sand
A man
bends to inspect
a shell
Himself
part coral
and mud
clam
I walked New Year's Day
beside the trees my father now gone planted
evenly following the road
Each
spoke
Katherine Ann
A poor poet
divining Gail
The baby looked toward me and I was born— to sound, light lift, life beyond my life
She wiggles her toe I grow I go to school to her and she to me and to Bonnie
Wilderness
You are the man You are my other country and I find it hard going
You are the prickly pear You are the sudden violent storm
the torrent to raise the river to float the wounded doe
Bibliography
Lorine Niedecker published five books of poetry during her lifetime (1903-1970). Since her death, several collections of her writing have been published or reprinted. Wherever books are in print, we’ve tried to include links to the publisher, and have included links to the WorldCat library record where possible, so you can find these books in a library near you. We recommend Jenny Penberthy’s Collected Works as the best single volume for the serious reader of Niedecker’s work, as it offers a definitive, meticulously edited collection of Niedecker’s poetry and surviving prose. We recommend The Granite Pail as the best ‘selected’ volume of Niedecker’s poetry.
Poetry
- New Goose. Prairie City, Ill.: Press of James A. Decker, 1946. | Library
- My Friend Tree. Edinburgh: Wild Hawthorne Press, 1961. | Library
- North Central. London: Fulcrum Press, 1968. | Library
- T & G: Collected Poems 1936-1966. Penland, N.C.: Jargon Society, 1969. | Library
- My Life By Water: Collected Poems 1936-1968. London: Fulcrum Press, 1970. | Library
- Blue Chicory. Edited by Cid Corman, New Rochelle, N.Y.: The Elizabeth Press, 1976. | Library
- From This Condensery: The Complete Writings of Lorine Niedecker. Edited by Robert J. Bertholf, Jargon Society/Inland Book Company, 1985. | Library
- The Granite Pail: Selected Poems of Lorine Niedecker. Edited by Cid Corman, North Point Press, 1985. | Library
- Harpsichord & Salt Fish. Edited by Jenny Penberthy, Durham, England: Pig Press, 1991. | Library
- New Goose. Edited by Jenny Penberthy, Berkeley: Listening Chamber, 2002. | Library
- Collected Works. Edited by Jenny Penberthy, Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002. | Library
- Homemade Poems. Edited by John Harkey. New York: Center for the Humanities, Graduate Center, City University of New York, 2012. | Library
- Lake Superior. Edited by Wave Books. Seattle: Wave Books, 2013. | Library
Letters
- Faranda, Lisa Pater. Between Your House and Mine: The Letters of Lorine Niedecker to Cid Corman, 1960 to 1970, Duke University press, 1986. Library.
- Penberthy, Jenny. Niedecker and the Correspondence with Zukofsky, 1931-1970, Cambridge University Press, 1993. Library.
Literary Executor
Niedecker’s friend and publisher Cid Corman assumed the responsibility of acting as Niedecker’s literary executor after her death in 1970. Following Corman’s death in 2004, Bob Arnold became Corman’s (and thus Niedecker’s) literary executor. Arnold and his wife Susan have published books under the Longhouse imprint from their home in rural Vermont for over 50 years.
For all literary permissions, requests and information, please contact
Bob Arnold
Literary Executor for The Estate of Lorine Niedecker
PO Box 2454
West Brattleboro, Vermont 05303
or email: longhousepoetry@gmail.com