Author Archives: Emily Rosko

Deborah Tall

I was deeply saddened to learn recently that Deborah Tall passed away late last week. Poet, essayist, editor of the Seneca Review for twenty-four years, wife, and mother, Deborah is the author of Summons, From Where We Stand: Recovering a Sense of Place, and most recently, A Family of Strangers, a memoir in the form of a lyric essay. She is also a co-editor of the anthology The Poet’s Notebook.

Deborah’s work has the rare gift of precision, of an emotionally-charged language that strives, Oppen-like, for truth and clarity. Her insights lead us to a discovery of the human — of compassion, reverence, and wonder — in the ordinary things of the world. I feel fortunate to have known her as a teacher.

You can visit her website to learn more: http://www.deborahtall.com/

Please read her work.

Promising Poetry Debuts

While poetry readers should check out Kevin Larimer’s feature on debut poetry collections, “Finishing the First: A Dozen Poets Who Sealed the Deal in 2006,” in the Nov/Dec issue of Poets & Writers, his diplomatic list, by default, neglects many other knockout first books.  Here are a dozen more first-timers from 2006 to look for:

• Brian Barker, The Animal Gospels (Tupelo Press)
• Deborah Bernhardt, Echolalia (Four Way Books)
• Rebecca Dunham, The Miniature Room (Truman State University Press)
• Karen Garthe, Frayed Escort (CSU: Center for Literary Publishing)
• Matt Hart, Who’s Who Vivid (Slope Editions)
• Rick Hilles, Brother Salvage (U. of Pittsburgh Press)
• Amaud Jamaul Johnson, Red Summer (Tupelo Press)
• Karla Kelsey, Knowledge, Forms, the Aviary (Ahsahta Press)
• Nadine Sabra Meyer, The Anatomy Theater (Harper Perennial)
• Wayne Miller, Only the Senses Sleep (New Issues)
• David Roderick, Blue Colonial (APR/Copper Canyon Press)
• S.A. Stepanek, Three, Breathing (Wave Books)