This is a concise book of poems. Just like all poetry collections, it contains some outstanding pieces and some that may not be as remarkable. The ones that truly appealed to me are as follows:

Mid-August at Sourdough Mountain Lookout on page 3. The description in this poem creates a vivid image of the scene, making me feel as if I were there myself.

Hay for the Horses on page 15. It seems that one would need to have had the experience of baling hay to fully appreciate this poem. However, even without that personal connection, the emotions and details conveyed are quite engaging.

Goofing Again on page 28. Sadly, I can relate to the incident described as I too have dropped a full can of paint. This poem brings a sense of humor and a touch of self-awareness to a common mishap.

Cold Mountain Poem 2, 5, 16 on pages 40, 43, and 54. These poems offer a unique perspective on the theme of Cold Mountain, with their own distinct styles and voices. Each one adds to the overall beauty and depth of the collection.

Try and make it to Cold Mountain

Considering that I am not at all inclined to poetry. I have to admit that when I first encountered it, I didn't find it beautiful or thought provoking. However, as I delved deeper into it, I discovered something quite interesting. The way he incorporated Buddhism with his way of thinking was truly remarkable. It added a whole new dimension to the work and made it stand out. It was pretty cool to see how these two seemingly different concepts could be intertwined so seamlessly. It made me realize that there is more to poetry than meets the eye. Maybe I should give it a second chance and explore it further.

Gary Snyder truly exemplifies the adages "Less is more" and "Plain language is not simple language."

As I delved into his works, I found myself experiencing a unique duality of feeling both isolated and empowered, much like the speaker in his poems.

To Mr. Snyder, nature holds a profound significance. It is the realm where we can both lose ourselves in its vastness and beauty, and simultaneously find our true selves.

His confident first book is an absolute must-read. It showcases his remarkable talent and perspective.

Among the many gems in this collection, my personal favorites are "Reading Keats by the Fire" and "5am off the Coast of Sumatra." These poems transport the reader to different times and places, evoking a range of emotions and thoughts.

Gary Snyder's work is a testament to the power of poetry to touch our souls and make us see the world in a new light.

This book is available from Counterpoint in a 50-year anniversary edition.

It is truly as good as Snyder can get. His achievements include a Pulitzer and the lifelong work of "Mountains and Rivers Without End". However, this first book of his is like gold.

It serves as the best introduction to his remarkable body of work. We sincerely hope that he will continue to write on and on.

Counterpoint is a publisher that produces the kind of books that you will treasure. Their selection is of the highest quality, and this 50-year anniversary edition of Snyder's book is no exception.

It is a must-have for any fan of Snyder's work or anyone interested in literature that explores the beauty and complexity of the natural world.

Whether you are new to Snyder's writing or a long-time admirer, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

I truly relished this collection penned by Gary Snyder, most probably due to its captivating Zen Buddhist elements. The book, in fact, consists of two distinct collections. One is titled "RIPRAP" and the other is named "COLD MOUNTAIN POEMS."

"RIPRAP" can almost be regarded as a precursor to "COLD MOUNTAIN." The poems within it convey the poet's quest for meaning as he engages in the act of survival. He works, searches for work, travels, observes nature and humanity on a daily and seasonal basis, and perceives the underlying sense of futility. As he inquires in "Milton by Firelight":

"What use, Milton, a silly story
Of our lost general parents,
eaters of fruit?..."

..."In ten thousand years the Sierras
Will be dry and dead, home of the scorpion.
Ice-scratched slabs and bent trees.
No paradise, no fall,
Only the weathering land
The wheeling sky,
Man, with his Satan
Scouring the chaos of the mind.
Oh Hell!..."

Other powerful poems include "The Late Snow & Lumber Strike of the Summer of Fifty-four," "Piute Creek," "Thin Ice," "Stone Garden," and "Riprap." He has two poems of a tortured mind while at sea - "T-2 Tanker Blues" and "Cartagena" - right at the conclusion of this section, and "Riprap" actually brings this collection to an end. As Snyder elucidates in a footnote to this section, Riprap is "a cobble of stone laid on steep slick rock to make a trail for horses in the mountains." I envision riprap as a metaphor for the events and experiences that lead the poet to "Cold Mountain," which represents an enlightened state of mind.

The "COLD MOUNTAIN POEMS" offer an interpretation of the journey to Cold Mountain, or the path to enlightenment. Snyder presents the reader with the account of Han-shan, who resided on "Cold Mountain" - the actual preface to his 300 poems. There are 24 "Cold Mountain" poems, and I savored each and every one of them. One of my favorites is #16:

16

Cold Mountain is a house
Without beams or walls.
The six doors left and right are open
The hall is blue sky.
The rooms all vacant and vague
The east wall beats on the west wall
At the center nothing.

Borrowers don't bother me
In the cold I build a little fire
When I'm hungry I boil up some greens.
I've got no use for the kulak
With his big barn and pasture --
He just sets up a prison for himself.
Once in he can't get out.
Think it over --
You know it might happen to you.

The book concludes with the line
All I can say to those I meet:
"Try and make it to Cold Mountain."

I'm attempting.

This is a really nice early collection of his poems from the 1950s.

It offers a very interesting and unique riff on the original Cold Mountain poems of Hanshan.

In fact, I think I might read the original Cold Mountain poems first as they are said to be an excellent book in themselves.

This collection seems to build upon the themes and ideas present in the original, adding a new layer of interpretation and creativity.

The poems in this collection likely offer a glimpse into the author's thoughts and emotions during that particular time period.

It would be fascinating to explore how his work was influenced by the cultural and social context of the 1950s.

Overall, this collection appears to be a valuable addition to the world of poetry, and I'm looking forward to delving deeper into it.

I'm rounding up for promise.

If I could, I'd give this 3 1/2 stars, I think.

It's his first book, and you can definitely see potential.

However, it's a little uneven.

Some of the poems are truly lovely, filled with beautiful imagery and deep emotions.

They have the power to touch the reader's heart and make them think.

On the other hand, some of the poems are just okay.

They lack that special something that makes them stand out.

But overall, this book does make me want to read more of his work.

It shows that he has the talent and the potential to grow as a poet.

I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes up with in the future.

I believe that with more practice and experience, he will be able to create even more amazing works of poetry.

It has been quite a long time since I last read a book of poetry from cover to cover. Fortunately, I chose Gary Snyder to return to this literary form. The sense of story and clarity that pervades these works, while still delving into more mysterious, mystical, and evocative realms, is not only an absolute pleasure to read but also a provocation and a reminder of what I have been missing by predominantly reading prose in recent days. Perhaps more than anything else, Snyder immerses you in the place he is描绘. You find yourself in Piute Creek or Pate Valley, reading Milton in the Sierras, and realizing how worthless your books are (or how much you miss them) when blasting rock out of the mountains. Moreover, he captures individual moments with such ease, economy, and beauty that it is almost shocking on some level, despite his status as a legend.

The second section of the book consists of a translation of the poems of Han-shan, a Tang dynasty wanderer who lived on Cold Mountain and was, in essence, Cold Mountain himself. Here, the poem functions as a koan, or the koan takes on a slightly more open form. These are not mere sayings, slogans, or fortunes; they are voices lost in the night. They are not philosophy but life itself.

Riprap:

“Lay down these words Before your mind like rocks. They are placed solidly, by hands, with great care and intention. In the choice of place, they are set Before the body of the mind in the vast expanse of space and time. The solidity of bark, leaf, or wall, like the riprap of things, forms a unique texture. There are the cobbles of the milky way, the straying planets that seem to wander aimlessly. These poems, people, and lost ponies with their dragging saddles and rocky sure-foot trails all contribute to this complex tapestry. The worlds are like an endless four-dimensional Game of Go, with ants and pebbles in the thin loam. Each rock is a word, a creek-washed stone of granite, ingrained with the torment of fire and weight. Crystal and sediment are linked hot, and all change, not only in things but also in thoughts.”

From the author: “The title Riprap celebrates the work of hands, the deliberate placing of rock. It also commemorates my first glimpse of the image of the whole universe as being interconnected, interpenetrating, mutually reflecting, and mutually embracing. This vision opened up a new world of understanding and inspiration for me, and I hope it does the same for you as you read these words.”

I find myself re-reading this quick collection once again. The reason is that I am currently engrossed in reading The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac. In this book, the fictional Snyder was writing specifically in this collection, namely Cold Mountain Poems.

This collection contains several of my favorite poems, with "Hay for the Horses" being particularly dear to me. As I read through the "Cold Mountain Poems" this time, they seem to strike a deeper chord within me. I believe it has something to do with the fact that as I am getting older, I find myself longing for solitude more and more.

There is a certain charm and wisdom in these poems that resonate with my current state of mind. They offer a glimpse into a world of simplicity and reflection, which is exactly what I need at this stage of my life.

Poetry to Cleanse the Soul.

After delving into Patterson's account of Jeffrey Epstein's sordid and immoral pathology, my spirit craved a respite. I turned to the words of Gary Snyder, longing to envision the vast sky, the majestic trees, the meandering creeks, and the chilly mountains through his literary lens. I yearned to listen to the enchanting birdsongs as described by him, to dance with abandon in the dive bars of Cartagena, and to soak in the profound and timeless verses of the Zen Masters. Snyder's words were like a gentle breeze, cleansing my soul of the darkness that Patterson's tale had unearthed.

Rereading after completing "Dharma Bums," I was once again struck by the beauty and fluidity of Snyder's verses. They served as the perfect soundtrack for the experiences of Ray Smith in that book, enhancing every moment and emotion. It was a truly perfect combination, and I am grateful to Gary Snyder for his gift of poetry. 10/21/2023