Book: Collected Poems

Introduction
Mark Strand's "Collected Poems", released in 2014, represents an extensive compilation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet's work from over 5 decades. Ranging from the 1960s to the 21st century, this collection showcases an amazing poetic landscape filled with charm, melancholy, and self-questioning. Through his expedition of styles such as life, death, love, and the passage of time, Strand produces a breathtaking view of the human condition that resonates deeply with readers.

The Early Years
The collection starts with Strand's excellent early work from the 1960s, which laid the structure for his long-lasting exploration of the different facets of the human experience. Readers encounter poems like "Sleeping with One Eye Open", a surrealistic portrayal of sleep as an uneasy, almost frightening state, frequently teetering in between waking and dreaming. These early poems introduce listeners to Strand's special voice and masterful command of images and metaphors.

A lot of these early pieces are written in the first individual, and this individual design develops an intimate bond in between the poet and the reader. Poems like "The Tunnel" and "The Garden" delve into insecurities, worries, and the unavoidable force of time. This level of introspection and vulnerability becomes a hallmark of Strand's work throughout his career.

Mid-Career Explorations
As the collection progresses, readers follow Strand through the 70s and 80s as he continues to establish his poetic voice. He starts to explore more significant themes, such as love and relationships, and his developing style ends up being much more profound and contemplative. Poems like "To Begin" eloquently express the intricacies of love through lines like, "How hard it should be to be an enthusiast,/ To like anything, to need it to be there,/ Hoping to be stirred".

Hair's mid-career poems likewise show a deep sense of melancholy that is frequently tinged with paradox and humor. In his poem "The Prediction", he composes, "That night the moon wandered over the pond,/ turning the water to milk, and under/the boughs of the trees, the blue fruit of thought/fell and was crushed". Here, readers are treated to his stunning images, as well as the expedition of mortality and the passage of time.

Later Work and Reflections
In Strand's later work, dating from the 1990s onward, we see him reflecting on his profession and the scope of his life experiences. In poems like "The End" and "The Delirium Waltz", he grapples with his own death and the everlasting influence of death on human presence. He likewise goes back to styles of love and relationships, expressing the challenges and intricacies of human connections with his signature wit and insight.

The poem "Man and Camel" uses an interesting and symbolic exploration of the poet's journey, where the camel functions as a metaphor for the problem of memory and experiences that define a life time. Strand examines the dualities of life, having a hard time to reconcile the weight of memories with the intrinsic vacuum that life can often entail.

Conclusion
Mark Strand's "Collected Poems" uses readers a detailed and extensive journey through the poet's life and profession. As we follow his work across 5 years, we witness the development and development of his poetic voice, in addition to the psychological depth and resonance that characterizes each piece. Through his expedition of styles such as love, death, and the passage of time, Strand invites us to reflect upon our own experiences and the ways in which our private stories intertwine with the greater tapestry of human presence.