Something Bright, Then Holes

Poems

Something Bright, Then Holes is a timely reissue from celebrated author Maggie Nelson (The Argonauts)

In poetry that reads like prose, Nelson meditates on the polluted Gowanus Canal and taps into environmental legacy in this genre-blurring collection

An emotional and deeply personal exploration of heartbreak and desire, and of feeling lost and then found again, it’s one of Nelson’s most raw efforts; Publishers Weekly wrote, “Narrative, sentimental and self-indulgent, this third collection risks many possible poetic pitfalls and comes through unscathed through sheer intensity of and commitment to her voice.”

"I'm so excited that Soft Skull is re-releasing Maggie Nelson's 2007 book of poetry Something Bright, Then Holes this June. For those of us (like me, for example) who are late to the Maggie Nelson party, it's the perfect opportunity to take in one of her lesser-known works. Besides, what better time to celebrate reinvention than summer?" — Lauren P., Book Culture (New York, NY)

"This book will probably not make you feel better during a dark time in your life or the world, but it might give a shape to some of the pain. My love for Maggie Nelson's writing grows with every book and poem I read by her." —Anton Bogomazov, Politics and Prose (Washington, D.C.)

"Perceptive and loving and sad, this collection of poetic stories dazzles. I will spend the rest of my life trying to be smart enough for Maggie Nelson." —Lucinda G., Powell's Books (Portland, OR)

"Nelson's collection is divided into three distinct sections, but almost all of the poems included have a sense of vulnerability and melancholy. There is a focus on loss—lost love, lost mobility, lost time—the wreckage of broken relationships, hearts, and bodies. The first section, field journals written about the canal, captures this essence and distills it. She uses minutiae to highlight entropy. The tension between beauty and decay, treasure and refuse. A time capsule of a single summer that simultaneously has a timelessness that extends to every summer. The stretch of endless afternoons, summer heat, and isolation. Written mostly in couplets, this collection is sparse, raw, observant, and pensive." —Old Firehouse Books (Fort Collins, CO)