Being Reflected Upon

Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize winner poet Notley (Certain Magical Acts) pens a memoir in verse, exploring her poetic influences and the last two decades of her life after the death of her second husband, poet and educator Douglas Oliver. Notley reflects upon undergoing treatments for breast cancer, the years she spent living in Paris (“for the health care”), memories of her youth, the deaths of her mother and her husband, and much more. Vibrant snippets of dreams, half-finished thoughts, and flashbacks (“Have you forsythia proven John Forsythe / in the driven to remember rain or snow I’m sinking / syntax by vibe, okay?”) contribute to the stream-of-consciousness flow that is alternately discombobulating and insightful. Notley narrates her own work with quiet simplicity, offering listeners an intimate glimpse into her innermost thoughts. Her slightly weathered voice bears witness to the years she spent honing her craft.