| Joyce Sidman’s newest collection, Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night, is gorgeous. It shows how Joyce uses a scientist’s eye and a poet’s heart as she approaches each topic. I had a hard time choosing which poem to share because there are so many stunning ones. In the end, I decided to share the introductory poem, which I hope you’ll find as inviting as I did.
Welcome to the Night To all of you who crawl and creep, To you who make the forest sing, Come feel the cool and shadowed breeze, The night’s a sea of dappled dark, –Joyce Sidman, all rights reserved |
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That poem, with its wonderful, lush, wild atmosphere created by specific nouns that appeal to all your senses, is a terrific taste of the joys that wait for you in the dark. My favorite poems are "Snail at Moonrise," "Dark Emperor" (love owls!), "Oak After Dark," "Night-Spider’s Advice," and "Moon’s Lament." And the nonfiction passages accompanying each poem are lovely and enlightening, too. If you enjoy nature poetry, run order this book right now!
Elaine at the fabulous Wild Rose Reader has the Poetry Friday Roundup, so head over and check it out!