Erase | Endure

This book of poems by Joel Thomas Katz explores the realms of Erase and Endure with an array of keen personal insights, serious and funny, delightful and penetrating. The poet brings these two resonant themes to life in the structure of the poems -- how they are written and appear on the page -- and in their content -- what is expressed in the poetry. He clearly demonstrates his love of language, which animates his poems in fascinating ways. As others have said, his poetry is "laced with crickets". Each theme is given its own section, then accompanied by a Postscript that commemorates the passing of his father. The Postscript brings the reader into a special quality of thought and feeling that increases his or her appreciation and understanding of the Erase and Endure poems. Along with a wonderful sense of completeness, the book as a whole offers that much more to enjoy and consider.