Moffett explores subjects from diving-bell spiders to the nervous system of the human body to trees growing so heavy with fruit that they split to dogs galloping through snowy hills. Winner of the 2018 winner of the National Poetry Series.
... great poetry ... After this first poem, the rest of the book is one long chapter that reads strongly, compellingly, like memoir, if memoirs were written as magical realism (as perhaps they should be) ... A mystery with clues strewn, hidden in the beautiful excess of verse. Every line seasoned with longing, for who faced with the loss of a mother, doesn’t yearn even for those things that used to annoy? ... granted, these are heady themes, but Moffett handles them with a sure hand, managing the magic, directing its music. That her talent for stretching poetry beyond its limits results in her giving us many books in one is all just an added benefit, and one that given the poetic essence that is all there (music, form, imagery, emotional weight, and mastery of verse) is just one more thing making this a poetry book of the best kind.
The story is built around Moffett’s standing outside her mother’s hospital room thinking about her before and after dementia through 'these images,' which she wistfully describes as 'Filling in/ what isn’t there.' Highly recommended for all libraries.
Moffett weaves together ambitious lyrics and haunting imagery ... A beautifully constructed collection, with echoes of Carole Maso’s Ava (1993), and a bright promise for this poet’s future.
