Tim Murphy has posted a terrific critique of Robert Crawford, and Robert's first book, Too Much Explanation Can Ruin a Man, in Tim's weekly Skipper's Poetry Corner feature on Alan Sullivan's Fresh Bilge blog. (I have never spoken so well of so many Conservatives in a single sentence in my life - excuse me while I lie down for a while and recover.)

HERE'S THE LINK TO THE BLOG - THE POST IS DATED AUGUST 8

Thanks, Michael. Tim was not available to make his usual announcement--he's on the road in wildest South Dakota.

Astute comments on a very fine book. It's a good example of fresh writing that nevertheless honors the tradition, even helps illuminate the tradition.
RPW

Michael, I hope you recover, and thanks for posting the link to my inadequate comments on a fine first book. I think the real reason Crawford left the Pentagon and retired to Chester New Hampshire for a quiet life of being an IT director and poetry teacher at a small college is transparent. He craved that glorious license plate that proclaims "Live Free Or Die."

Several years ago Wisconsin held a contest to create a state motto. The idiots in the legislature failed to adopt what should have been the clear winner: "Eat Cheese Or Die." In my peregrinations around New England I cried every time I saw a Quebec license: "Je me Souviens." The cheese-eating surrender monkeys will never get over Brave Wolf's victory over Montcalme on the Plains of Abraham.

Tim,

I've enjoyed the series, but I've often have a hard time finding the reviews. Others can get directly to the Skipper's Poetry Corner via this link:
http://bilge.seablogger.com/archives/cat_skipper.php

epigone

Hello, epigone. All that's required is a quick scroll past the scary stuff. Since I make half a dozen or more posts a day, the poetry essays move down the page, but they remain viewable for ten days before they vanish into the category archive you have correctly linked.

Alan

Tim,

If only they had room on the plates for the whole quote from General Stark, since they left out the best part:

"Live free or die--death is not the worst of evils."

Thanks (and thanks also to the EfH) for the generous review. I wish everyone could read my book on the veranda of the Mt. Washington Hotel--what a perfect setting!

For those headed to New England, or somehow living here now without a copy, the best way to get a hold of my book is via Amazon. Link here.

--Robert Crawford

Publication of one's first trade press book is a big deal, the mark of arrival. Chapbooks and periodical publication are all very well, often prerequisites of course. When I joined the Sphere, I think only Alicia and I had published first books. Since then, we have recruited members such as Mezey, Mason, Gwynn and Espaillat who have published shelves of trade books. What most tickles me, though, is the astonishing numbers of our members who have launched their first books: Benedict, Warren, Watkins, Juster, Krisak, Crawford, Coe, Nicol, Stocks, Tufariello, Clements, Reeser, Anthony, and I'm doubtless overlooking a number of authors. Congratulations to all.

"French Braids" is sooooooooo hot!

*fanning self*