The Lesser Guardian

Joanna Nealon's poetry has always presented a fresh, unique voice to the world, and her new volume is no exception. She is a true seeker, combining great depth and a playful lightness in her work. She allows us to see all aspects of her striving - her hopes, her failures, her goals and achievements, her struggles. This gives her poetry authenticity and the ability to inspire others on their inner journey. It is a gift that we can return to and be moved by again and again.Michael Steinrueck, spoken word artist, director of Creative Speech Spring Valley, FarrierJoanna Nealon's Sixth book moves grippingly through three parts: first, dismal misery; then, vigorous but premature attacks to free the self from its pain; and lastly a haunting and original image to celebrate a new human capacity, the thinking heart. "The heart is the lens/ For the real Sky, / Not the touted telescope" the final poem begins. It ends showing that cosmic beings look "long and deeply" through the lens, "Waiting, waiting, / For the heart to see." Nealon's surprising last line both closes her brilliant book and arouses readers and hearers to expect the heart/lens to see. Her new and bold image may be rich in meaning from a poet who has been blind since she was nineteen, decades ago. Gertrude Reif HughesProfessor Emerita, Wesleyan University