Fire by Wesley McNair

Philip Levine recommends
Fire, poems by Wesley McNair: "Is there any poet around who can catch the singular qualities of American voices better than Wesley McNair? If so, I haven't found her. In this, his fifth book of poetry-and for me his most beautiful and moving-he reunites a dismal collection of people (what we call a family) and lets everyone have his and her say. This unlikely project works only because of the power of his emotional investment and the certainty of his craft. Although largely about New Englanders, this is not regional writing. Only someone with a profound love and understanding of people and a superb ear could show how we can say so much while taking so long to say nothing." (Godine)