This book is Russell Lichter's third within a very short period of time. He seems to be blossoming in the sunset of his life. These poems are an unusual blend of abstract thoughts and concrete images which, despite the contrast, seems to work most of the time. He is clearly a contemplative man. The book is nicely produced for this, giving each poem an entire page on the left hand side and a blank on the right, as if to give the poems room to breathe and sink in. None of them have titles.

Some lines I liked: "leaves crackling in the breeze/like the opinions of old men" ; "The crow's song sounds/down generations/a tidal wave/ in black crepe de Chine." Lichter winds around questions of being and absence and time and regret and concludes, "It doesn't have to be this way/but much to our surprise/this is exactly the way it is." His concluding position, I think, can be captured in these lines about his own life: "Old age is the dessert course,/the palate cleanser/before the sleigh ride home." A thoughtful book for thoughtful readers. ( )