J. Patrick Lewis is known for his children's poetry. Creative and energetic, he has one of the most marvelous senses of word play I've ever read. Brilliant really.

So, if you don't know, Lewis also writes for older audiences; his poems have been published in dozens of prestigious literary journals.

Porch Light is his second collection for adults. The cover alone invites you in and has a beautiful feel to it (both physical texture and warm feeling), and I love the size (approximately 7.5 inches by 9.25 inches). But the "porch light" that truly shines is inside.

It's divided into nine sections and I suppose my one small quibble with the book is that only the final section is named. I have no doubt Lewis could have given a clever title to each.

While there was something to love in all, some of my favorite poems came from the first section:

"The Elephant" (But he looks ahead to the watering hole / and a few drinks with friends . . .)

"Lonesome Albert" (The only telegram from dad read: "Upside down on Isabela Island [stop] The sky is blue [stop] Send help . . .")

"Dusk, Back Porch, Canada" (Shy Evening paints all heaven gray . . .)

"Weather, by The Old Masters" (The Michelangelo thunder / of an April / cloudburst . . .)

Lewis writes about nature in unique and clever ways, often from an animal's point of view. He writes about love, love lost, missed opportunities, aging, dementia, poetry, historical figures, war, immigrants and emigrants, gangs, and more. And, as always, you'll find humor sprinkled throughout—but there are also powerful and deep poems that will keep you thinking long after you've put the book down.

There are words and phrases and lines you will read twice just to savor, including:
"shadows / spear the afternoon" * "Let jungles whisper jaguar" * "Let the spider embroider the air" * "Let the turtle be" * "poets accept blind dates with enchantment" * "heavy with twins to rival a moon / of Jupiter" * "oxymoronicamerica" * "A daffodylic crowd"

I recommend grabbing two copies, one for you and one to give a friend. ( )