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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2018)
FEBRUARY 8, 2018 // 23 BOOKMONGER Poets ponder connection and frailty, faith and forgiveness A month or so ago, this column focused on recently published books by two male poets. This week, let’s give equal time to the ladies. Seattle poet Katy E. Ellis already had two chap- books to her name when her newest effort, “Night Watch,” was awarded the 2017 Floating Bridge Press Chapbook Award. Float- ing Bridge Press, founded nearly a quarter century ago and run by volunteers, supports the work of Wash- ington State poets. To get the full effect of the poems in “Night Watch,” you’ll want to read them sequentially, from the front of the book to the back. Ellis alternates between “Pre-“ and “Post-“ entries — but for what purpose you will be hard-pressed to fathom if you try, as I did at first, to dip randomly into the pages to sample the poems. To do that is only to be confound- ed. It’s much better to begin at the beginning, where you’ll find an exquisite- ly crafted paragraph that describes nighttime at a cabin in winter — “a strati- fication of blankets,” and a “star-infested sky.” Turn the page and you’ll consider a train ride from several years past, the passengers a motley but generally convivial mix of Deadheads, pious immigrants, families and runaways. On to the next page and a different train ride, somewhat later. And sure enough, through these “Pre-“ and “Post-“ poems, you’ll begin arriving — not in- stantaneously, but gradual- ly — at a new reality that couldn’t have been imag- ined until it happened. From meteor showers and the moon in the sky above, to the Coast Star- light on the ground — Ellis’ poems ponder connection and acknowledge frailty. This little chapbook, filled with tragedy and wonder, is simply first-rate. Also highly recom- mended: the debut poetry collection of a Tacoma oc- togenarian — we shouldn’t have had to wait so long! Glenna Cook’s new book, “Thresholds,” is a kaleido- scopic review of life within a family. Mother, sister, husband, son: With each poetic turn, the colored chips of foibles, virtues, habits, mistakes and milestone events reconfigure — mak- ing sense in different ways, sparkling or seeming to disappear, then cropping up again to be reconsidered from a fresh perspective. Over the course of more than 100 poems, the reader will begin to divine that tribulations and joys some- times turn out to be made of the same stuff. After a lifetime of stepping in to serve as the caregiver to family mem- bers who are coping with mental or physical chal- lenges, Cook gets her own diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. She pushes back in a poem titled “New Friend”: “You’ll be my incentive / to fill my days / with nourish- ing pursuits …” Uplifting if not al- ways upbeat, these poems resonate with poignancy and faith and forgiveness. While the challenges Cook explores through her poetry are uniquely her own, every family has its litany, and any reader should be able to find many points of entry to these poems. Thanks to Tilla- mook-based MoonPath Press for seeing to it that this poetry collection got published. The Bookmonger is Bar- bara Lloyd McMichael, who writes this weekly column focusing on the books, au- thors and publishers of the Pacific Northwest. Contact her at bkmonger@nwlink. com. The Artist guild showcases Nitzel’s paintings LONG BEACH, WASH. — Northwest Artist Guild will hold its first reception of the year 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10. The public is invited to enjoy newly created art at The Picture Attic (711 Pacific Highway North) in Long Beach. Jean Nitzel, a founding member of the guild will be the featured artist for this occasion. Nitzel works in watercolor, and her paintings show a softer side of local birds and animals. She also paints landscape and sea- scape subjects. Her art is meant to convey joy in living through watercolor. The guild will be showing every other month this year; the next show will be in April. In May the group will again spon- sor their nonmember art show with monetary prizes to the top winners. For information on the con- test, contact The Picture Attic at picattic@gmail.com or by phone at 360-642-4770. “Thresholds” By Glenna Cook MoonPath Press 178 pp $15 Illahee Apartments A painting of a beagle pup by Jean Nitzel LOOKING TO PURCHASE OR REFINANCE A HOME, we are ready to help you with your mortgage needs Lance Allbr itton c:503-801-2400 o:503-338-5200 Why Live Anywhere Else? 1046 Grand Avenue PHOTOS COURTESY JEAN NITZEL A painting of a forest path by Jean Nitzel Astoria, OR 97103 503-325-2280
