Wittgenstein Elegies

Donalee Moulton-Barrett was a writer and editor in Halifax.

To appreciate the Wittgenstein Elegies, readers must appreciate — and be thoroughly familiar with — the work of 20th century Viennese philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. Jan Zwicky has such an appreciation and knowledge. Indeed, in the foreword the poet tells us: “I thought that I had, at one time or another, read most of what has been published, either by [Wittgenstein] or by editors concerned for his posthumous reputation.”

The message is clear: Zwicky knows Wittgenstein — his family, his intellect, his aspirations —intimately. That respectful intimacy is both the strength and weakness of the Wittgenstein Elegies.

The fact is that most readers, unlike Zwicky, will simply not have the necessary awareness of Wittgenstein and his philosophy, especially about the nature of meaning, to comprehend what the poet has attempted in this work. There are “Notes” to help the Wittgenstein neophyte but these are only brief explanations of the book’s five sections and provide, at best, only a scant light.

In a sense, that’s unfortunate. There is good poetry here: An interesting blend of the passionately terse and the compassionately expansive. Ultimately however, the Wittgenstein Elegies remains a collection of poems that will appeal primarily to academic interests.