I found this intriguing-looking hardcover at the Book Cellar. It's a collection of poems by an author who was born in Japan but raised in Virginia. (It turns out he also spent time as poet-in-residence at Smith College in Northampton, MA - a town I've visited a couple of times without ever realizing how perfect this book would have been as a local release!)

The poems range from evocative scenes to very personal recollections, including several that deal with the death of the poet's father. Among my favorites: "Icarus Breathing" ("Icarus (a humpback whale, not a foolish dead boy)"); "Swans" ("From above we must have looked like ordinary tourists feeding winter swans, though it was the grit of our father we flung hard..."); "Myself With Cats"; "Pillowcase with Praying Mantis"; "Self-Portrait as the Red Princess"; and the very erotic "Blur".

I left this book in the Little Free Library at around 3:15 or so; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2016 Oh, the Places We Can Go release challenge. ***

*** Released as part of the 2016 Four Elements release challenge. ***