Severance

by Robert Fanning

In his fourth full-length collection, Robert Fanning takes a dramatic leap into a liminal world. In poems both measured and free, both cadenced and incantatory, we follow two marionettes—Professor and Grief—who search for a life untethered and authentic. Crossing from day into night, from wood into flesh, from wakefulness into dream, from ice into thaw, Severance sings of a way—through the narrows of time and body—toward healing.

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2019

About the author

Robert Fanning is the author of five full-length poetry collections: All We Are Given We Cannot Hold (Dzanc Books, 2025), Severance (Salmon Poetry, 2019), Our Sudden Museum (Salmon Poetry, 2017), American Prophet (Marick Press, 2009), and The Seed Thieves (Marick Press, 2006). In addition, he is the author of four chapbooks: The Good Sea (Red Flag Poetry, 2026), Prince of the Air (Seven Kitchens Press, 2024), Sheet Music (Three Bee Press, 2015), and Old Bright Wheel (2002 Ledge Press Poetry Award). His poems have appeared in Poetry, Ploughshares, Shenandoah, Gulf Coast and other journals. He is a Professor of Creative Writing at Central Michigan University. He is also the founder and facilitator of the Wellspring Literary Series in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

To read his work, visit www.robertfanning.wordpress.com.

Reviews

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Severance is a profound and meditative poetry collection that explores the delicate intersections of time, body, and emotion. Robert Fanning crafts a liminal space where readers follow two symbolic marionettes Professor and Grief on a journey toward authenticity, healing, and self discovery.

Fanning’s work excels in its lyrical precision and emotional resonance. The oscillation between measured cadence and freeform expression mirrors the ebb and flow of human experience, drawing readers into a reflective and immersive reading journey. Themes of transformation, grief, and the passage from night to day, from ice to thaw, are explored with sensitivity and a subtle intensity that lingers beyond the page.

The collection is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally affecting, offering readers a rare combination of meditative insight and poetic beauty. Ideal for poetry enthusiasts, contemplative readers, and those drawn to works exploring emotional landscapes, Severance demonstrates Fanning’s mastery of language and his ability to convey deep human truths in compact, powerful forms.

[Jade Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to hear Fanning read some of these poems shortly after this book was first published, and his reading (and singing!) was magical. Although I enjoyed finally reading all of the poems, I personally like these poems better when spoken than when on the page. Still, it was a captivating read from beginning to end.

I also kept thinking of the book as more of a "story told in verse" than just a collection of poems.
This did not impact by view of the book, but I think it's an interesting categorical note.