Griefmania: Poems

Griefmania is a translation of Kathryn Starbuck's maiden name from the Greek and Turkish. The meaning of her name is the subject of her poetry; this book also provides us with an exquisite, brief prose memoir. Starbuck's art portrays the madness of intense grief. Griefmania is a first book, written by the poet in her sixties. Further, when she looks at herself (unlike Narcissus, unlike most poets) she almost falls in love with history--that is, the grief of others. Mysteriously, the reader will find, perhaps unknown to the poet, the book is also haunted by the good ghost of joy. This is a profoundly beautiful book which, in manuscript, was much appreciated by Anthony Hecht.