Prairiehead

Brian Palmer admirably writes against the grain of our current trends in verse by reclaiming the freedom to rhyme, or not; to count syllables, or not; to declare feelings openly, or not-depending on each poem's need. And these poems are all about need. The need "to eat / our cache of bitter food, to deem ourselves / as beautiful. And finally, to be fed." This need lifts Palmer's Prairiehead toward intensities of music and feeling and form that, in turn, make reading him an unusually elevating experience.

-Joseph Hutchison, Colorado Poet Laureate emeritus and author of Under Sleep's New Moon



Make no mistake-these are love poems, poems that explore and celebrate love-not as a concept but as a thing in motion-within the rolling swells of sea green desert sage here in the rising belly of the west. A refreshing first collection by a humble denizen of the lyrical earth.

-Wendy Videlock, author of The Poetic Imaginarium: A Worthy Difficulty



Hearkening back to the Romantic poets, Brian Palmer's lyrical collection Prairiehead is deeply rooted in the natural world. These technically sound poems are rich in awe and wonder and capture a sense of timelessness and existential longing. Wistful, spirited, and alive, these strong, soulful poems mark a powerful debut, enjoyable to a wide swath of readers.

-Jodie Hollander, author of Nocturne