Duality: Poems in Bloomington, MN

Richard Betts, in his graceful and deeply moving second collection, continues his thoughtful and philosophical approach to poetry. This book represents an eloquent outpouring of 56 new poems that are much more personal and introspective than his previous writings. It is a testament that invites readers to share his vision of experiences we all have in common: strength and weakness, joy and sorrow, desire and disdain, faith and skepticism, tenderness and tenacity and life and our own mortality.
Much like his first book, Betts's poems are constantly on the attack, and his subjects are as various as his viewpoints. "Vision" focuses on the heartbreak of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), "Omnipotence" and "Crumble" investigate the question of suffering versus faith, "Correct?" looks at the dangers of political correctness and "Disbelief" focuses on the numerous questions one asks following the tragic death of a loved one. Betts avoids slowing his poems down with indecipherable symbolism, opting instead for works that, with his carefully chosen words, are fast paced and powerful.