WHISTLING THE MORNING IN
New Poems
by Lillian Morrison & illustrated by Joel Cook
A few of these 28 brief offerings have appeared in periodicals, but most are ``New Poems'' from a favorite poet, perhaps best known for her anthologies on sports (Sprints and Distances, 1965). Here, she brings a fresh, discerning eye to weather and times of day (``Noon'': ``The summer sun/is at its summit/moving toward/its nightly plummet''), offering quizzical, deftly phrased observations on related subjects, such as the ocean or a ``Country Clothesline'' snapping in the wind, and poking affectionate fun at language (``Daily Violence'': ``Dawn cracked;/the sun stole through...Night fell./The clock struck midnight''). Cook's soft, decorative art, deployed against white, Peter Parnall-style, provides a pleasant backdrop without trying to steal the show. Nice. (Poetry. 5-10)