Endless River: Poems & Reflections

by Brett Dufur

Inside the stunning cover by New Regionalism artist Bryan Haynes, Brett explores and celebrates the cycles of life and nature in this poignant love letter to the Missouri River, its community and the many gifts it offers to those willing to listen. Spanning an extensive range of topics and emotions, readers will surely find themselves immersed in new celebrations of the world around them. "Endless River is a stunning collection of poems on not just the Missouri River but life itself as it meanders from our birth to our death. The river is nature, family, and soul. Dufur’s metaphors flow consistently throughout the seasons of life. "The reader feels the power of the river in the flow and structure of the poetry. Dufur is a storyteller, so the reader is transported along the current, viewing the lives of birds, animals, and loved ones. The use of sonics and rhyme call up the songs of all the voices filling our lives. "The poet sings of joy and laments loss. But the undercurrent of this poetic journey is gratitude and love. This collection of poems is an allegorical and uplifting story of our lives. — BARBARA HARRIS LEONHARD, author of Three-Penny A Poetic Memoir & Editor for MasticadoresUSA. "The poems drift through the seasons, following the struggles and elations of someone trying to live life at its fullest while learning the lessons of flow and persistence that the river teaches. It's chockful of wisdom and questions and beautiful images from nature." — Missouri River Relief In Endless River, Dufur anchors us firmly to the physical Midwest — Missouri’s rivers, woods, trails, and rainstorms — while zigzagging down its unworldly streams of ancestral ghosts, fatherhood, and the hallelujah sounds found in the siftings of gravel bars. In lines like, ‘We were born in the great middle spaces / in the belly of a timeless hummingbird / already in flight,’ Dufur steps forward in the long, honorable tradition of river poets before him." Poet Elijah Burrell

160 pages, Perfect Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll keep this by my recliner in the sunroom and pick it up again and again. I loved "The Wide Open Spaces of a Poem. The poem, "Endless River" was tribute to the legendary folk in Boone County who flow with the river. I am envious of people who can write like this.