A Gathering of Poets Book

Kyger and Whalen are my two favorite Beat poets. Kyger's poetry is often understated, but no less powerful for that; the poetry has subtle modi operandi; it's generally as earthy and as canny as water (think of how water is described in the Tao de Ching). And yet somehow the uncanny appears, which is probably grace. Infinitely enduring, infinitely cycling through nature because of its willingness to go anywhere, her poetry ends on taking the feeling of divinity, the feeling of very gracious, very compassionate being. And out of this state of mind comes a reception to deep and abiding beauty in the commonplace. She is a spirit to accompany one. Her poetry walks side by side with you. The poetry is the record of a deep friendship with the entire human race. Rare.