Matthew Lippman - The New Year of Yellow

Author Asks

1) Why does the author make unexpected "leaps" in his poetry. Do you think Lippman does this consciously? What is the effect these leaps have on the poems?



2) What role does the body play in Lippman’s poetry? Why is he so focused on writing about parts of the body?



3) What is the relationship between The Camouflage of 4/4 Time, Because I'm Black, and Where Are All The Puerto Ricans? How are these poems similar in subject matter and tone?



4) Is there an arc to Lippman’s book? If you think so, explain.



5) Why does Lippman make the women in Blonde and All blonde? How does the color blonde exist as an archetype in American society/culture?



6) Would you describe Lippman’s poetry as ecstatic? If so, why? What are some examples of poems that read as ecstatic?



7) There are a number of poems that refer to a "Mike." Do you think this Mike is a fictional character or someone Lippman knows?



8) Can you explain the germination of the last poem in the book The Art of Being Backwards? Do you think this poem rises out of the desire to become a father?



9) Do you think Lippman’s poems are influenced by his physical environment? Many of the poems have an urban feel to them but there is clearly a fascination/love of the natural world. How might you explain this?



11) Hallelujah Terrible was in the anthology, The Best American Poetry, 1997. What do you think this poem means if anything? Explain your answer by using specific examples from the text.