Ben Belitt, an extraordinary poet known for his meticulous control of form and prosody, blends traditional and modern elements with a unique auditory brilliance. His works are characterized by a profound imagination that challenges readers intellectually and emotionally. Belitt’s exploration of place, existential themes, and the intrinsic duality of joy and despair create a rich tapestry that demands attention and contemplation.

The Evolution of Belitt's Poetry

From the beginning, Belitt's poetry displayed a remarkable auditory quality. Though his early works relied heavily on alliteration and a somewhat affected voice, they showcased his focus on traditional forms, with a keen command over meter and stanza. As he progressed, Belitt embraced freer verse, reflecting both the evolving era and his personal sensibilities. Despite his shift in style, he retained a penchant for rich verbal expression, prioritizing it over prosaic flatness.

Imagination and Intellectual Demand

Belitt’s poetry is marked by its demanding imagination. His rapid succession of images, similes, and metaphors often leaves readers feeling that an elusive associative step has been omitted. This intellectual rigor is intentional, as Belitt frequently juxtaposes immediate experiences with historical figures and ideas, expecting readers to grasp these complex connections effortlessly.

Exploration of Place

At the heart of Belitt's poetry lies a profound exploration of place. His works delve into the poet's existential struggles and aesthetic inquiries, using contrasting elements such as stone and tree, desert and water, to reflect these internal conflicts. Belitt’s depiction of place is impressionistic, serving more as a canvas for his metaphysical and philosophical musings than as a portrayal of the physical world.

Through his poetry, Belitt navigates a journey from alienation to acceptance of rootlessness, reconciling childhood anxieties with philosophical depth. This endeavor is exemplified in his collection Nowhere but Light, where he illuminates the dark places of both external and internal landscapes.

"The Five-Fold Mesh" and the Challenge of Change

In The Five-Fold Mesh, Belitt addresses themes of orientation and change through sequences like “Many Cradles” and “In Time of Armament.” The collection moves from basic responses to nature to complex relationships between the personal and contemporary worlds. Belitt’s world is characterized by metaphysical uncertainty and a quest for value, embodied in lines like “Cherish this disbelief / For final truth, although the end be grief.”

Belitt confronts suffering and death in this collection, particularly in "John Keats, Surgeon." This poem explores Keats's rejection of easy consolation in favor of harsh truth, reflecting Belitt’s belief in the poet’s duty to embrace discomfort and reality. Despite the prevalent darkness, hope emerges in "Battery Park: High Noon," where spring’s allure draws individuals from the mundane into nature's embrace.

The Dark Balance of "Wilderness Stair"

Wilderness Stair continues Belitt's exploration of dark themes, balancing joy and despair. The volume includes sequences like “Departures,” which contrasts grace with starkness through diverse landscapes, and “The Habit of Angels,” exploring transcendence amidst worldly chaos. In “Karamazov,” Belitt pays homage to Dostoevsky, examining paternal conflict and eventual acceptance.

The war poems in “In Agamemnon’s Color” present visceral portrayals of conflict, as seen in "Descent in a Parachute" and "The Spool," where the stark reality of war meets the sterile detachment of medical intervention.

Joy and Its Antagonist in "The Enemy Joy"

The Enemy Joy, Belitt's third collection, reflects on joy's inherent opposition. The titular poem connects to past works, depicting a bird singing "the enemy joy as it were grief," echoing Keats's "Ode on Melancholy." The new poems, approached through the lens of aesthetics, integrate life and art, with pieces like “Battle-Piece” exploring the absence of meaning in historical events.

In “Memorial Hospital: Outpatient,”...