The Welsh Book of the Dead

These poems attempt to make sense of, or render more endurable, acute marriage difficulties. From this painful, raw material, the poet constructs a vivid portrait of conflict and estrangement, lightened by tender recollections, darkened by moments of despair. The power of these poems, their ability to transcend the casual or confessional, owes much to Houston's artful use of traditional forms, especially the villanelle and sonnet. Astringent, intelligent, and lyrical, these poems have much to offer the discerning reader.