Poet Alice Oswald, who served as Oxford's professor of poetry until 2023, presents her first full-length book, 'Rhapsody', which combines both poetry and prose. The volume features translations and compositions by Oswald, alongside works by Shakespeare, Donne, Shelley, and Ted Hughes. It is framed as a nonfiction exploration that weaves together retellings of Homer and Aeschylus, while also experimenting with form. The subtitle, A Manifesto, suggests a pressing relevance to contemporary issues.
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In the initial chapter, Oswald engages with themes of the spoken word by recounting her interaction with a Ukrainian heart transplant recipient and citing figures like David Bowie and Nat King Cole. The inclusion of Badia Obaid, a contemporary Mesopotamian storyteller, emphasizes the vital connection between poetry and personal narrative. However, subsequent chapters shift focus to a broader exploration of poetry, revealing Oswald's gift for crafting illuminating imagery, such as describing “woodland at night” or reflections in water.
The concluding chapter delves into historical definitions of “rhapsody”, tracing its evolution from “exalted expression” in 1639 to its 1880 interpretation as an indefinite instrumental composition. Oswald seeks moments in poetry that transcend mere trends or rhetoric, embarking on a quest for authentic poetic experience. She interprets Shakespeare’s Sonnet 87, highlighting the significance of pauses and shifts in momentum.
Despite her dismissal of scholars and academics—though they are referenced in extensive endnotes—Oswald's voice resonates as an individual conversing with the great poets of the past. Notably, while she includes a poem by the late Nobel laureate Louise Glück, current voices in poetry are less represented, which raises questions about the scope of her manifesto.
Additionally, Oswald revisits the metaphor of the river, similar to her earlier works, as she ultimately advocates for nature's cause. She identifies the natural world as a fundamental source of both poetry and existence, a sentiment echoed by Ted Hughes in his own writings. Oswald's exploration, while insightful, continues to reinforce the enduring truths that underscore the art of poetry.