Carrie Etter Libri

In Imagined Sons, poet Carrie Etter reflects on the experience of a birthmother who gave up her son for adoption when she was seventeen.

In The Shooting Gallery, Carrie Etter juxtaposes two series of prose poems: one exploring Czech surrealist Toyen’s World War II line drawings and one addressing US school and university shootings since Columbine High School in 1999. Both series consider the awful conjunction of youth and violence, at once real and surreal. In these terse, chilling, and compelling poems, Etter explores the aftermath, a landscape of loss and unanswerable questions.“The spare, lucid sentences of these prose poems make a brilliant and urgent response to the Czech artist Toyen’s surreal line drawings with their images of war and childhood. The second of these two linked series features U.S. school and university shootings, and of central resonance is a shooting incident which took place in 2012 in a school in Normal, lllinois where Carrie Etter grew up. This is work of powerful restraint, but fertile also, proving that ‘there is no such thing as a blank canvas’.” Moniza Alvi

When Dame Beatrice is given a mink stole by her maid, she is reminded of the maid's shady past and immediately suspects that it was stolen from the the next flat. A former army officer and other lodgers endeavour to return the stole. The plan is devised with care and all of them take such delight in the secretive scheme that they wonder why they don't do this more often. They form a syndicate for stealing and returning furs. Everything goes well until a loss is reported and the police come charging in. The maid is horrified to discover what has been going on behind her back, but agrees to employ her talents to bail the amateurs out of trouble if they agree to never touch another fur. She succeeds, the police leave, and life returns to its humdrum ways until someone remembers that it was only furs they had promised not to touch!

Exploring the theme of loss through humor, this poetry collection traverses various locales, from an imaginary village to the Illinois prairie. Each poem is rich with original observations and wry commentary, showcasing a distinctive wordiness. Drawing on a wide array of cultural references—from classic literature to iconic figures like Shakespeare and Bob Dylan—the pieces create a formal and thematic tapestry that engages with the world’s quirks and intricacies. The collection invites readers to appreciate the beauty and complexity of life’s experiences.

The "Nobile Folios", published in association with Piano Nobile, a London art gallery, are gorgeous multidisciplinary explorations of twentieth- and twenty-first-century artworks. Each folio explores a single work, attempting to replicate the experience of seeing it with one's own eyes. New titles this year explore "Sunflowers" 1958/9, a painting by Peter Coker, with ten color images of the work supplemented by an essay by art critic Andrew Lambirth and poetic contemplations by Carrie Etter.

Carrie Etter is known for beautifully expressive and formally inventive verse. The Weather in Normal, her fourth collection, explores the changes to her hometown of Normal, Illinois following her parents' deaths, the sale of the family home, and the effects of climate change on Illinois' landscape and lives.

Exploring the profound impact of climate change, the narrative delves into the struggles faced by the land and its people in Illinois. As the story unfolds, the language reflects the painful evolution of both the environment and its inhabitants, highlighting their vulnerability to uncontrollable climatic and political forces. Through evocative imagery and emotional depth, the author captures the urgent realities of a changing world.

Featuring a diverse collection of contemporary British prose poetry, this anthology showcases the work of notable writers including George Szirtes, Luke Kennard, and Carrie Etter. Each piece explores unique themes and styles, reflecting the vibrant landscape of modern poetic expression. The contributors bring their distinctive voices, offering readers an engaging journey through innovative language and thought-provoking imagery. This compilation serves as a testament to the richness of prose poetry in Britain today.

Exploring the cultural fixation on beginnings and fresh starts, this collection of poems reflects Carrie Etter's journey from southern California to England over twelve years. "Divining for Starters" captures the essence of new chapters in life, showcasing her evolved perspective and the best pieces from her ongoing poetic exploration. The work delves into themes of renewal and the significance of origins, offering readers a thought-provoking experience.

Grief's Alphabet by Carrie Etter is a shattering elegy for the poet's mother, opening a pathway through grief in spite of the impossible task of expressing such a loss. Beginning both chronologically and alphabetically, the collection moves from early life with the narrator's adoption, through to the mother's unexpected death and the banal yet painful tasks which follow, such as sorting clothes and arranging the funeral. The final section deals with life after loss, and the long work of grieving which culminates in the title poem. Evoking the complex, intimate relationship between mother and daughter, this raw yet deft collection celebrates love in the same breath as it weeps for its loss.?