Red to the Rind

by Stan Rice

“Behold the door / the lock’s alive,” warns Stan Rice in one of the commanding poems that make up this new volume of verse. From the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras to the private chambers of the imagination, Rice’s work is at times sharp and minimalist and at times over the top in its vivid critique of life and in its regard for the sanctity that lurks in all experience. In these concise, memorable verses, he contemplates the stroller-pushing crowd in the American mall; he maps the complex traffic of a marriage; he speaks to the cat bristling in the “—for you, / For your on-tiptoe hissing / Slit-pupiled arched-backed tail- / Stiffened terror, this song.” Throughout, Rice sings of the darkness that conflicts us and of the moments of pure consciousness that allow us to transcend darkness.

Genres: Poetry

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2002

About the author

Stan Rice was an American poet and artist and husband of writer Anne Rice (married 1961). He was a Professor of English and Creative Writing at San Francisco State University and retired as Chairman of the Creative Writing Department in 1989. Stan Rice died from brain cancer and was survived by his wife, novelist Anne Rice and son, author Christopher Rice.

It was the death of the couple's first child, daughter Michele (1966-1972), at age six of leukemia, which sparked Stan Rice's becoming a published author. His first book of poems, based on her illness and death, was titled Some Lamb, and was published in 1975. He encouraged his wife to quit her work as a waitress, cook and theater usher in order to devote herself full time to her writing.

Both encouraged their son, Christopher, to write as well.

He is entombed in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans.

Reviews

[Shannan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of you will recognize this poets wife....the true queen of vampire novels, Anne Rice. Her husband Stan, who passed away in 2002, is much more grounded in real life and everyday observances and his poetry is mostly real and poignant. For example his poem on love states; "how can we both be the loved one?"

Some of his poems weren't hits for me but overall I enjoyed his work. If you're ever interested check out his poem entitled "Garden Doghouse"......."the love that died is teaching me to love. Died isn't the word. Word isn't even the word."

Love it!!