Berg

Winner of the Forward Poetry Prize Best First Collection 2010. Vigorous and diverse in subject matter, this collection of poems presents its verse in tightly woven fictions and dramatic monologues, all replete with their own unique settings and outcomes. Utilizing an innovative approach to the rural environment, this poetic study views it from a slanted perspective complemented by ironic as well as tender observances. Capturing the various forms of the elusive “elsewhere,” the pieces range from life on an organic farm to the lively social dynamics of Paris, Havana, and New York. From the subjects of geese, babies, and the song “Star Dust” to thoughts on love and even a poem that simply lists the dubious, multifarious ingredients of store-bought Tiramisu, this versatile assortment also provides insights into ongoing ecological and environmental concerns.