Across the Mutual Landscape

by Christopher Gilbert

Poems consider death, music, the past, love, family life, nature, and the imagination

Genres: Poetry

91 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Abigail Woodard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled across this book in a used book store and have found a new favorite poet in it. Gilbert delicately highlights the depth of meaning to be found in the ordinary. In this collection, he especially highlights that which can be found in our shared human experiences.

Here are some of my favorites from the collection:

- “Time with Stevie Wonder in it”
- “Fire Gotten Brighter”
- “Listening to Monk’s Mysterioso I Remember Braiding my Sisters’ Hair”
- “How the Stars Understand Us”

[Taylor Franson-Thiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and deft.

[Bunnie Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Gilbert dispenses some of the most lyrical, engaging, and dynamic poems I’ve encountered in a while. Gilbert’s style consists of a what can be intuited as a blend of the Harlem Renaissance, Transcendentalism, and Beat poetry. Intellectual, stream-like, and imaginative. Evocations of jazz. Spirit. The sentimental quality and laminar lyrical beauty of these integrated, rich poems cannot be overstated.

[L.B. Holding · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love jazz, poetry, and the African American urban voice, this one's for you.