First published 2014
Nancy Willard creates two distinct poetic worlds in this dual collection. In "Water Walker," everyday moments transform into something mystical. Sleeping fish drift through verses alongside the explorer Marco Polo. A wise tortoise offers wedding advice to a nervous bride. The poems weave together fables, nursery rhymes, hymns, and songs into a tapestry where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. "19 Masks for the Naked Poet" strips away pretense to reveal the human soul beneath. The poet removes disguises that hide truth from daily existence. Bees doze in gardens while green lions prowl through imagery. Doors shift into mirrors. Husbands rise above their beds in moments of weightless wonder. The poet moves between sacred and profane experiences, photographing his own heart and encountering God in unexpected places. Willard explores family bonds, romantic love, spiritual seeking, political awareness, and questions of mortality through surreal and enchanting creations. Regina Shekerjian's illustrations accompany these explorations of what lies beneath the masks we wear.
Genres: literary-fiction, magical-realism, poetry, surreal
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, sacred-and-profane
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
Kindle Edition · Open Road Media