Listening to the Candle

Autobiographical elements form the core of this impressive book-length poem--the second volume of a projected trilogy, sequel to Coming to Jakarta. Through 200 pages of tight three-line stanzas, the poet extends the limits of personal history by incorporating quotations (sometimes only three words) from over 150 sources in a context that stretches his emotional journey. Past and present converge, but the imagery is so relevant to its particular time that readers should easily locate themselves.