Joseph Brodsky, Leningrad: Fragments

The Russian poet Joseph Brodsky actually spent a little more than half his career in the U.S. His work was a classical exploration of life's complex relationships, of the here and now of what life makes us. Exiled from Leningrad--indeed, from Russia--at 31, Brodsky never returned yet remained a citizen in his heart and mind, and his poetry and essays were framed by his memories. Photographer Lemkhin serves the poet well by gathering images of Leningrad whose visual language encourages the same degrees of attention and communication Brodsky's poetry demands. Here and there, images of Brodsky appear, always, it seems, with cigarette in hand, smiling eyes, the eyes of a poet. And what are the eyes of a poet? What does a poet see? Lemkhin's beautiful book may not answer these questions, but it comes close. With short, valuable, and touching written contributions by Czeslaw Milosz and Susan Sontag, the book merits hours of just sitting and looking. Raul Nino