About this item
Highlights
- A mesmerizing collection of eerie, image-rich poems that explore the fleeting nature of existence and friendship, inspired by the world of art and artists.
- Author(s): James Morehead
- 70 Pages
- Poetry, American
Description
About the Book
A mesmerizing collection of eerie, image-rich poems that explore the fleeting nature of existence and friendship, inspired by the world of art and artists.
Book Synopsis
A mesmerizing collection of eerie, image-rich poems that explore the fleeting nature of existence and friendship, inspired by the world of art and artists. The Plague Doctor combines poetry with mesmerizing ink drawings by Natalia Ardus, art by Mark Kulas and Tony Rubino, and photography by the author. Poet and musician Lisa Marie Simmons writes in her foreword to the collection, "I've read this collection three, four, then five times. In my office, in the tour van and the green room, after yoga, and once bundled up beneath an ancient olive tree. Despite those many deep dives, it never seems enough to complete this foreword. So I returned-six, seven, ten times. Each reading has me focusing on something new, and a year from now, I know more discoveries will be made as my perspective shifts with my own experiences. This is one of the many things I love about poetry and, in particular, Poet Laureate of Dublin, California, James Morehead's poetry."
"With an ekphrastic eye for everything from street art to cherry blossom petals amassed on damp grass, James Morehead's poetry pulses with vibrant detail. Whether it's Jimmy Page strumming a mandolin or ruminations of a sourdough starter, Morehead's speaker is equally intent on listening. In his new collection, The Plague Doctor, this poet has created a vivid document that captures what it means to be perpetually inspired by the world in all its facets." - Tina Cane, Poet Laureate of Rhode Island and author of Body of Work and Year of the Murder Hornet
"The literary community has been waiting for a collection like this, which moves beyond simple ekphrasis, creating poetry that illuminates art as well as the reader's understanding of what it means to be human." - Kristina Marie Darling, Editor-in-Chief, Tupelo Press & Tupelo Quarterly
"The poems ricochet off the visual images in unexpected ways, so that this book - where word and image converge - reminds me of a pinball machine. As in that song by The Who, Morehead is our 'pinball wizard.' Whether writing free verse, haikus, or ballad-like rhymes, he 'sure plays a mean pinball.' Morehead creates his own boisterous 'cacophony of bells / that flash in reds, greens, and golds.'" - Donald Platt, author of Swansdown
Review Quotes
"You'll come to expect the unexpected, because leafing through this book is akin to walking through an exhibition, through a series of galleries wherein Morehead's far-reaching imagination is released. Such a free-for-all might be considered an easy option for a poet unburdened by the discipline a more thematic work calls for, but don't be deceived: control and direction are very much here all right, if lightly worn, and serve to compliment and strengthen the poet's vision." - The Colorado Review
"James Morehead's poetry pulses with vibrant detail. Whether it's Jimmy Page strumming a mandolin or ruminations of a sourdough starter, Morehead's speaker is equally intent on listening. In this new collection this poet has created a vivid document that captures what it means to be perpetually inspired by the world in all its facets." - Tina Cane, Poet Laureate of Rhode Island and author of "Body of Work" and "Year of the Murder Hornet"
"The literary community has been waiting for a collection like this, which moves beyond simple ekphrasis, creating poetry that illuminates art as well as the reader's understanding of what it means to be human." - Kristina Marie Darling, Editor-in-Chief, Tupelo Press & Tupelo Quarterly
"The poems ricochet off the visual images in unexpected ways, so that this book - where word and image converge - reminds me of a pinball machine. As in that song by The Who, Morehead is our 'pinball wizard.' Whether writing free verse, haikus, or ballad-like rhymes, he 'sure plays a mean pinball.' Morehead creates his own boisterous 'cacophony of bells / that flash in reds, greens, and golds.'" - Donald Platt, author of Swansdown
"These poems showcase the ability of Morehead to turn his pen towards decidedly more ominous imagery with a deft manipulation of his singular talent: the skillful use of imagery coupled with his perceptive take on the subject matter." - Lisa Marie Simmons, poet / singer / songwriter
"James Moreland's The Plague Doctor begins and ends in the image one cannot shake from their sight. Each ekphrastic poem is accompanied by images which are sometimes lush, sometimes stark. What is most striking is how the poems mirror the pictures; each slowly comes into sharp and intelligent focus the longer one examines. If you're like me, you'll find yourself delightfully 'lost inside each verse until notes fall and in darkness disperse.'" - Kyle McCord, Author of Reunion of the Good Weather Suicide Cult