From the very first poem, Meditations on the art of prayer by a lesbian ex-nun, in her new collection, View from the Other Side, Betsy Snider blends the scared and the secular with lines like, “The question of god is etched/against the snow at midnight.” For anyone who has experienced God in nature this book is a must read. To read these poems is to participate in a liturgical prayer of praise for the precious moments that make each life unique. The sorrow and the glory of a life filled with love, sexuality and an acceptance of the past illuminate the pages. Betsy Snider even confronts the inevitable death we all shall face with truth, honest questions and beautiful images. In a fitting end to this collection, in her poem, End Times, the poet envisions, “The sheet is lifted over my slack face./ I dive deep into the lake,/touch the sandy bottom/and surge to the surface/aflame.”
Share in this poet’s outstanding tribute to the human spirit of self and the natural world and feel the blaze.
Dianalee Velie is the poet Laureate of Newbury NH. She is the author of five books of poetry, and a collection of short stories. Her new poetry collection, Italian Lesson is forthcoming this April. She is the founder of the John Hay Poetry Society.
This post is part of our celebration of National Poetry Month 2021 for which I asked New Hampshire poets to recommend books of poetry by Granite State poets. These titles are generally available from local booksellers and may be held in public libraries as well.
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