A. R. Ammons

  • 11

    Catalog books

  • 10

    Works

  • 1971 to 2008

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

A. R. Ammons collected concise, sharply observed poems into The Really Short Poems of A. R. Ammons, a volume that showcases his ear for compressed language and wry attention to the natural world. These compact pieces distill his craft into moments of surprise, wit, and precise lyrical control.

Across the book’s brief entries, Ammons balances philosophical curiosity with everyday detail, turning small scenes into larger reflections. The selections reveal how economy of line can produce expansive thought, inviting readers to linger on sound, silence, and the subtle mechanics of perception.

Best Place To Start

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Concise, imagistic short poems • Playful philosophical observations • Precision with everyday language

Genres and themes: Modern poetry • Nature and attention • Wit and thought

Who this author is best for: For readers who like short, observant poems that compress big ideas into compact, witty lines.

Start with this collection of very short pieces to sample Ammons’s voice and range before exploring longer works.

Top Books To Start With

  1. The Really Short Poems of A. R. Ammons

    W W Norton & Co Inc • 1990 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1990 • 160 pages.

  2. Glare

    W W Norton & Co Inc • 1998 • standard commitment

    It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

  3. Brink Road: Poems

    W W Norton & Co Inc • 1997 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1997 • 230 pages.

  4. Garbage: A Poem

    W W Norton & Co Inc • 1994 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1994 • 130 pages.

  5. TAPE FOR THE TURN OF THE YEAR

    W W Norton & Co Inc • 1994 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1994 • 205 pages.

  6. Garbage

    W W Norton & Co Inc • 1993 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1993 • 121 pages.

  7. Collected Poems 1951-1971

    W. W. Norton & Company • 2001 • longer commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2001 • 416 pages.

  8. Sphere: The Form of a Motion

    W W Norton & Co Inc • 1995 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1995 • 80 pages.

  9. Ommateum: With Doxology

    W. W. Norton • 2008 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2008 • 96 pages.

  10. Briefings

    Norton • 1971 • quick commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 1971 • 105 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • The Really Short Poems of A. R. Ammons is the easier short commitment, while Glare asks for more reading time up front.
  • The Really Short Poems of A. R. Ammons gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while Glare leans later in the catalog.

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