{"product_id":"happy-life-9781556593741","title":"Happy Life","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e“David Budbill is a no-nonsense free-range sage who celebrates tomatoes in September, the whistle of a woodcock and sweet black tea and ancient Chinese poems.” —\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Budbill both informs and moves. He is, in short, a delight and a comfort.\"—Wendell Berry\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"[Budbill] can be hilarious, as when he gripes, ''What good is my humility \/ when I am \/ stuck \/ in this obscurity?''\"—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"His terse, epigrammatic lyrics are a lilting mirror of classical Chinese poetry.\"—\u003ci\u003eThe Wichita Eagle\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Budbill continues his popular poetic ruminations on life in remote New England—an outward survey of a forested mountain and an introspection of self-reliance, anonymity, and the creative life. Inspired by classical Chinese and Japanese poets, Budbill contemplates the seasons, ambition, his questionable desire for fame and fortune, and simple, focused contentment: \"Weed the beans. Pick the peas.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Out in the Woods\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe only time I''m really free is when I''m out in the woods\u003cbr\u003ecutting firewood, stacking brush, clearing trails.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eJust the chain saw, the dog and me.\u003cbr\u003eHeave and groan, sweat and ache.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWork until I can''t stand it anymore.\u003cbr\u003eTake a break.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSit on the needle-strewn ground up against a big pine tree,\u003cbr\u003edrink some water, stare out through the woods, pet the dog.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eStretch out on the ground, take a nap,\u003cbr\u003edog''s head on my lap.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAh, this would be the time and place and way\u003cbr\u003eto die.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDavid Budbill\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of poems, plays, essays, speeches, and book reviews. He has also served as a commentator on NPR''s \u003ci\u003eAll Things Considered\u003c\/i\u003e. He lives in the mountains of northern Vermont where he tends his garden and website.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Copper Canyon Press,U.S.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51359611552087,"sku":"9781556593741","price":17.1,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781556593741.jpg?v=1754125172","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/happy-life-9781556593741","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}