IN THE LAND OF WORDS

“In the land / of words, / I stand as still / as a tree / and let the words / rain down on me.” With characteristic brightness and simplicity, Greenfield celebrates talking, singing, writing, and reading in 21 poems, all but nine either new or previously uncollected. She divides the selections into two parts: The Poet/The Poem and The Land, choosing obliquely connected subjects for each. Switching from her customary paint to stitched fabric collage, Gilchrist captures that sunny tone, scattering stars, flowers, small everyday objects, and dark-skinned, smiling faces across the wide, uncolored margins. The poet introduces several selections with commentary on their genesis and personal meanings, further enriching this joy-filled, right-on tribute to wordsmithing in all its forms. (author’s note) (Poetry. 7-10)