New Book

I'm so pleased to announce that my new book of poetry, The Slow Talk Of Stones, is now available for pre-order sales from Finishing Line Press at their website at http://www.finishinglinepress.com/NewReleasesandForthcomingTitles.htm from now til Nov. 10th. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to view my book and order your copy. I'm always happy to sign one with a personal inscription. All orders ship On Jan. 7th. I know it's a bit of a wait, but I do appreciate your patience. I would even throw in a nice houseplant or homemade cookies if I could, but you'll have to come here for those.

I thought I would give you all a sneek peek at one of the poems, set in Eastern Kentucky:

After The Mines Came

Briars stitch into the hills
where we once watched morning slip over
easy as a promise.
And I think the earth has grown spined and calloused
saving itself against us
and I see the eyes of Hazel Mott who lives down the ridge
a face that impales the eyes of anyone
who peers into the memory of a son
who fell into the belly of the world
when the car snapped its cable
and they pulled out his bones in a sack,
only to re-bury them
as if once was not enough,
that the earth wanted to suck out the marrow,
grind his skeleton to dust
between teeth of stone,
seal the ghost of him under dead words
spoken in a registered letter the coal company sent -
a lapsed policy,
bounced check,
would she please pay the service charge
by September 1st.
We're so sorry.