Authors

James McKean

Contents

Fireflies -- Sow Bear -- Teaching Canaries How to Sing -- Tell Me -- This Way, Please -- The Place of Mosquitoes -- Whispering in Leo Kauf's Ear -- The Ride Back -- Rowboat -- Worry Dolls -- Heron -- The Night before a Morning's Fishing -- Your Leaving -- Lava Flow, Wahaula -- Ice -- Skin Test -- Whale Rock -- Les Grues -- The Try-Your-Strength Machine at the Tivoli Gardens -- House Wrens -- Breakneck -- Fake ID -- Splitting Wood -- Reunion, Cannon Beach -- A Hawk in the Yard -- Net -- A Story after Dinner -- Two Magpies -- Just in Case -- Snow Angel -- Orchard -- Tree of Heaven -- Concert -- Pelican -- In the Mind's Eye -- Fire Line -- Silver Thaw -- Driving to Multnomah Falls -- The Blessing of Habit -- First Snow -- Quarry -- Dead Reckoning -- Rider -- Hooking Yourself

Document Type

Book

Publication Date

1995

Series

The Iowa poetry prize

Award Date

1994

Publisher

University of Iowa Press

Place

Iowa City

Total Pages

72

ISBN

9780877455059

Abstract

This second book by James McKean displays a large, dignified, and precise talent - McKean is always looking and reaching out to the difficult world, pulling it to him for examination. Although beginning with outward themes of travels and crossings, Tree of Heaven circles in the end to the journeys of the inner life: the struggle to understand, the ability to see, to suffer the trials of illness and death, to survive love and longing, learning when to leave things as they are, when to let go. McKean's accomplished voice is quiet but firm, at times full of wonder, exploring the personal and discovering what salvation there is in rhythm and words.

Rights

Copyright 1995 James McKean

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URL

http://ir.uiowa.edu/uipress_ipp/7