Disclaimer-this author is a relative of my wife. But i do not recall meeting him at any family reunions. Second disclaimer-I know almost nothing about poetry. This is a short book, half is short poems and half is one long poem. The longer one is a very accurate portrayal of mid 20th century rural west Tx. ( )

Unbelievably beautiful. I read this on a plane and I'm certain the flight attendant thought I was insane, what with all the silent crying and eye-dabbing. Read it privately, or at least in understanding company, and with a good stiff drink.From The Long Home III:...Opal's eyeswere all horizon. Looking in, you knewThat what you saw was your own vision's limit,And not the end of what was there. In prayers,She'd catch you looking up and wink. She'd cryAt any little kindness, if you just saidYou thought her face was pretty, or the timeWe saw Sister giving her only pieceOf candy to the mare.... ( )