In The Time of Great Fires

by Alison Luterman

IN THE TIME OF GREAT FIRES POEMS BY ALISON LUTERMAN WINNER OF THE 2020 CATAMARAN POETRY PRIZE This book is coming out September 20th, 2020. You may place an advance pre-order now. PRAISE FOR IN THE TIME OF GREAT FIRES These moving poems open us. Some so tender they draw tears, some with words sharp like a smack, some by laughter, and all bringing gifts. —Jack Kornfield author of A Path With Heart The entry anonymously chosen for the 2020 Catamaran Poetry Prize is Alison Luterman’s In the Time of Great Fires. These are poems brimming with life experience and deep with heart. The poems are spoken intimately to the reader with compassion, insight, and a squinty eye that doesn’t miss the details. The poet recounts both tragedies and joys, always in the context of a wish for more kindness in the world. In the world of In the Time of Great Fires, people are flawed but worthy of love. The poet reflects on a life lived with boldness and a willingness to open to the world in all its delicious confusion. In the Time of Great Fires embraces the present moment with all its difficulties, assuring us that as we face this most fearful time, we stand with other true seekers. —Zack Rogow

Genres: Poetry

Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just closed this collection and can’t wait to go back and savor each poem again… and again. Heart and humor, compassion and exasperation. Connections, connections, connection. So happy to discover this poet’s voice and her gifts to all who listen.

[Ellen Roberts Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the title, In the Time of Great Fires, one might expect a lot of poems about disasters and destruction. From the cover art, one might suppose that the fires are all internal. Neither is really accurate. Luterman’s focus is primarily on daily experience, including politics and personal relationships, but paying attention to details others might not notice or think worth reporting.
The title poem does begin with buying breathing masks, then moves to wandering the aisles of Goodwill before reflecting on climate change. The title of poem and book leaves out a few key introductory words as the poem concludes:

. . . . . . . I’d say I lived
in a time of great fires but what
time comes after this is what I want to know
and who will be around to name it?

Compassion and a sharp awareness fill these poems, as in “Making My Way Down Market Street” in which she notices several specific homeless people as she hurries to catch a train and concludes :”on what slender threads/we all are dangling.”

These poems cover a wide range of times and events, with heart and gentleness. I bought it because I was headed to a workshop with her and it proved to be a fine collection. (She’s a gentle and compassionate teacher also.)

[Sherry Richert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following Alison’s work for many years. What I love so much is that her poems are stories that always transport me someplace unexpected. It might be a surprise emotion or it might be a a corner of the world where I’ve never stood. Here’s just one example of a first line from a poem in this book: “It was very kind of my ex-husband, dead these dozen years, to show up in my dream last night.” It is impossible not to get pulled into this moment with the poet, right? And she delivers. In just a few dozen lines, she takes us back to being young and invincible, to our first love, to our own mistakes and regrets, to dusty backroads when we had all the time in the world. Inevitably, after reading Alison’s poetry, I feel as if I’ve grown new rooms inside myself. I feel more vital. I feel more of a connection to being human. Whenever I start to slip into fear or flatlining, I know I can pick up any of Alison’s poems and find myself a warm spot of love to curl into.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love! Love! Love! Every poem is a gem.

[Vincent Antonio Rendoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A swift, sensory read about aging, death, and love in a harsh world. Filled with gut-punchers. Highly recommend.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry