Description
Book SynopsisIn the story of the prophet Elijah, he must flee his home, and, after an arduous journey, he arrives under a broom tree, where he prays for his own death. But in his sleep, he is touched by an angel who provides food and water. In this moment, the broom tree becomes a symbol for shelter in a barren landscape, a portent of hope and renewal. Drawing inspiration from this tale, Natalie Homer’s debut poetry collection is a trek through the wildernesses of the heart and of the natural world. Exploring the idea of divine providence, Homer finds seams of light opening between forlorn moments and locates, “Something to run a finger through, / something to shine in the ocher light.” Within these narrow spaces, Homer explores themes of longing, home, family, and self-worth amidst the wondrous backdrop of the American West and the Rust Belt, while integrating a rich mythology of narrative, image, and association. The broom tree, offering the capacity for shade and respite, becomes a source of connection and an inspiration for the collection. It is an invitation to sink deep into the earth and self and feel the roots entwine.
Trade Review"'Stay close I urge the young rabbit / as he nears the road.' Natalie Homer keeps a close watch on the world in this stunning book of poems, moved by a potent mix of curiosity, vigilance, and love. Nothing seems to escape her notice. She looks up and sees a 'stray clump' of balloons drifting through the sky. She looks down and sees the 'creeping gray lives flourishing in corners.' She looks under cars and in storage closets. No detail is too small. While the polar bear at the zoo may be 'on vacation, ' even the water in its tank 'can be a spectacle, too.' At once wry, candid, and rich with description, Under the Broom Tree is a wonderful book." --Geoffrey Hilsabeck, author of Riddles, Etc.
Table of ContentsI. Interview A Place to Lie Down Diorama of Anxiety Attack Wild Tonic in the Rain Dear Astoria Good Vibrations Topography Pacific Attic of the Skull Am I the Only One Here I Hear You’re Doing a Great Job Suburban Orchestral Dormancies Fear of Loss at Any Moment Liquor Outlet The Bravery of Cotton Coralbone Bloom Pleasant Ghosts Torpor Interior Architecture II. My Mother Sent Cards A Hiding Place, a Surprise Sunflowers in the Median Divination Dust on Horses Glue Market Morning Glory Pool In My Desert Overlook Every Seven Years Immersion Genealogy Equity Telemetry Search Party (I.) Search Party (II.) Summit Under the Broom Tree III. Dear Idaho Organic Geometry Veterans Day Return to Sender Another Small Failure What You’re Really Looking For Memorial Day Aperture Fourth of July Horoscope Souvenir Gravedigging, 5:00 am Processional Relief Efforts Night Garden Love Poem Somnambulance Field Notes 8 Hot New Tips The Incalculable Loss of a Small Thing
