The Brittle Sea: New and Selected Poems

This substantial selection is the culmination of more than two decades' worth of beautifully crafted poems. From a poet who was born into a family of musicians, music pervades many of these pieces, as do a large cast of aunts, neighbors, and friends—many of whom appear in Dylan Thomas-like character sketches. Characters are not pinned down, but are allowed to flourish as archetypes, evoking their history and context with a rare empathy and a lyrical lightness of touch. Also included in this...