SPILL

by Michael Chitwood

Poetry. Segmented in thirds, Chitwood's distinctive vision begins simply, as he evokes an Appalachian upbringing mired in pious certainty and yet haunted by spiritual craving. We follow the pilgrim's path in the following segment, as he attempts to wring holiness from the merely terrestrial, finding only fleeting glimpses of the divine. The final section turns contemplative, as the speaker tries to comprehend the course he has taken and find solace and wisdom in his journey. Sharp, spare, and unpretentious, Chitwood's verse utilizes the common tongue and humor of a man in thoughtful dialogue with his fellow creatures.

Genres: Poetry

72 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can taste Virginia in these poems. I'm especially fond of the dog poems.

[Sandra McRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read this book this winter after a few years of it sitting on my shelf as a fond memory. Re-reading it I remember why I liked it so much. Chitwood writes like a deep river...calm on the surface, but a strong undercurrent of emotion moves you through the book. Oh how I enjoyed being carried away. The design of the book is also perfect for these longer, narrow poems that spill down the page like the cover image. I will return to this one again and again.