Instructions from the Narwhal

by Allison Titus

INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE NARWHAL is a collection of poems that populate empty parking lots and seaside pawn shops and depart from a port at Deadhorse, Alaska. The title is taken from the centerpiece poem, which composes Part I and is spoken by a narwhal who gives cryptic advice to those requiring guidance on eulogies, arctic travel, and extracting minerals from ghosts, for example. Part II is composed of quieter meditations on an absence fixed as longing, a red thread knotted at the wrist.

Genres: Poetry

Chapbook

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Betsy Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

this chapbook is blowing my mind. the poems are so calm and pensive, and patient in their weirdness. they're so full of love i love them back.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to teach this book alongside Dan Beachy-Quick's Spell and Deborah Meadows' Itinerant Men. Image rubs up against address in a way that makes me think of cardboard waves that work together so well they lose their adjective.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite (chap)books of all time. I'd never heard of the poet, but ordered the book because Bateau has an eye for interesting poetry. This was no exception - gorgeous, surprising, strange and intricate poems.

"the tiny shipwreck in your voice invented me"

Many of these poems are included in Titus's later collection Sum of Every Lost Ship : poems.

[Osvaldo · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Story:

My wife: I am really happy I found that Allison Titus book.
Me: Elephantiasis book?
Wife: Allison Titus. She's a poet.
Me: Oh. Poor girl. I bet they called her "Elephantiasis" in junior high. . .


Great poet though.

[Gary McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

ASAP!!

[Roxanne]

I didn't fall in love with this like I wanted to. There weren't any narwhals in it, plus I think Titus just isn't my style.