Dave Harrity

I took a chance on this because the ebook was on major sale. I'm glad I did. This is perhaps the best collection of poems I've read in a while. Harrity has poems about Kentucky, poems about life, poems about prayer and spirituality, and poems about doubt and belief.

These poems are meaty enough, and long enough that I should not quote them here but I especially appreciate the nine part Novena at the books center, book ended by On Prayer #1 and On Prayer #2. Other poems of note include Trigger--a poem about a man in a gun shop contemplating a gun purchase, Hallelujah, I'm a Bum, Atropos, At Pleasant Hill to Visit Shakertown, and the prose poem After Chuck's Zen Garden. It is a strong collection, but these are my favorites.

The title is taken from a line in George Oppen's poem, "Blood From a Stone." These pages are full of allusions and references to mythology, theology, philosophy, literature. These are layered poems but not in a overt pretentious way. Harrity's words touch real emotion, particularly in relationship anxiety and struggles with faith. And of course, beautifully written.… (mehr)