The Boundaries of Return

by Scott Andrew Christensen

Scott Andrew Christensen's debut collection the boundaries of return is a compelling exploration of passage in and through the natural world. Richly symbolic and formally experimental, Christensen's poems create worlds at once uniquely perceptive and recognisable, in patterns of verbal play that are distinctive and memorable. "Scott Andrew Christensen's poetry haunts the borders between the physically detailed and the metaphysically mysterious, or between Nature--in its beautiful details--and the Spirit, what is ineffable... Although the boundaries of return represents a debut, Christensen is already preternaturally skilled in edging toward Wisdom or Faith via witnessing everyday doings and the beings of persons, creatures, and things. Welcome--with joy--the boundaries of return." GEORGE ELLIOT CLARKE

70 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2014

Reviews

[John Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like a mind grasping at life’s absurdity Nova Scotia poet Scott Andrew Christensen’s spare and taut poems cast lines across the page like a fly fisherman, flirting with a canny and yet unconquerable mid-size Atlantic Salmon. The sense of wit and tension is perhaps reflected in the idea of that eye fixed on that infernal fly (or bird thumping against the window pane) or perhaps the inner psychology of a soul in reflective mode, catching inspiration in nits in the sunlight. If the metaphor of water is used it is with great effect and the channels of thinking and questioning permeate numerous word play poems which pay homage to nature like a late night voice at the cottage speculating not on life but at the etymology in life itself. ‘Buckets of Buffed Caw’ is stand alone study in the singular originality of the poetic voice. Seek this one out to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth Bishop and a ghost of George Elliot Clarke. Unexpected and a delight to read and reread for its obscure and at times brilliant dead pan humour. The Turkish influence also resonates in strange and beguiling ways.