My new book, Some Notes on the Silence, is now available from the publisher, Kelsay Books. They tell me Amazon is running a bit behind, so the book will be available there in about a month.
Although I prefer for the poems to speak for themselves, I will say that this book begins with the atmosphere of “cancel culture,” intimidation, and foreboding that pervades our society today, and then seeks a way to surpass these things and find truth and meaning both culturally and individually. I do so primarily (though not exclusively) through the lens of American tradition and history, not out of blind worship of these things, but out of an informed love for them.
I’m honored that some of my favorite poets—Stephen Kampa, A.M. Juster, and Jennifer Reeser—took time to say some kind words about my writing, and I was especially touched by Ms. Reeser’s comment that my “poetic voice is as authentically American as any reader could hope to encounter.” That was exactly what I hoped to evoke, and if I have managed that, I consider the book a success.
Here are a couple previously unpublished poems that you’ll find in Some Notes on the Silence.
A Lens
(for Wallace Stevens)I held a lens against the sky,
and all the waves that wandered in
the darkness came into alignment
as they never were before,and cannot be again; that lens
with delicate exactitude
carved a place against the night
with its own abandoned light,and made a thing that I could hold
while all around the wild earth
remained a mystery: an instant
clear like nothing else. An image point.
from Three Poems from The Twilight Zone
Good Living (“It’s A Good Life” starring Bill Mumy)Within His mind is everything; outside
Him is nothing. We’re happy deep inside.
Our world is what He alone decides.
All we really need, He provides.And it’s peaceful. Truly. Some have tried
to find some way to reach the other side
of the field. Some of them have died.
Or worse. Better not to play that hideand seek with thoughts. That’s just suicide.
The real problem is your foolish pride.
Stifle it and learn to clear your mind.
If you pretend it’s true, you haven’t lied.Most of all, say you’re satisfied.
Try not to think about infanticide.
I’m grateful to the editors at Kelsay Books both for putting together such a lovely book and for their patience with me as I struggled to get everything just so.
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