On Angie Hogan

Angie Hogan's poems are marked by a clear and sardonic intelligence, a wit that is reflected in the suppleness of line and crisp allure of her images. Although her subject matter is often difficult, she is never sentimental, eschewing the easy emotional tug for an unflinching poetic eye. "Paint me into the set of Parsifal" demands the lover in "Insolent Monologue," and we thrill to the sass and dash of a voice assured enough to declare by poem's end: "I'm more/naked than an autumn Alp." An imagination that can find exuberance in such unlikely spots is one I would bank upon. I predict a vibrant future for Ms. Hogan in her quest to become the best writer she can be—which, if present accomplishments are any indication, means that she will be a formidable presence in the literary world.

—Rita Dove, former Poet Laureate of the United States, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize.