Fermi Buffalo

by Louise McNeill

The final collection of poetry by the late Louise McNeill, West Virginia's Poet Laureate from 1979 until her death in 1993. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[John Tipper · Rating 4 out of 5]

McNeill was the Poet Laureate of West Virginia, 1979-1993. She had a unique voice. She explored the essence of Appalachia. She used vivid imagery. McNeill's themes were nature, history, and the human experience. The first part of Fermi Buffalo is about science. "Where the Fermi Nuclear Accelerator ("largest in the world") circles under the earth of Illinois." Another poem covers the work of Dr. Carl Sagan, the astrophysicist. It is rare when a poet tackles scientific themes. There's one on Erwin Schrodinger, the Austrian physicist. Some of the collection is on myths and nature. One section is comprised of ballads. The language is readable and resonates with a diverse audience. Her use of couplets, however, has been criticized as old-fashioned and too traditional. And at times, McNeill is sentimental. But all things considered, this is an important contribution.