Below Cold Mountain Book

A masterful suite of poems which takes the reader on an Odyssean voyage across the globe.

Library Journal

Seeking a quiet, reclusive existence, Stroud (Signatures, 1982) borrows his title from the Chinese poet Han-Shan. Sixty six-line poems that make up the first section also owe their brevity and philosophy to the Chinese masters. They are uneven at best, with too many images and visions stretch credibility: "a half-circle of cockroaches,/ the color of burnt butter, sitting in full lotus, antennae/ weaving mantras." These pieces are at least sincere portraits of fleeting selves. Poems in the next sectionhomages, responses, and loose translationsoffer little promise. Yet Stroud is also capable of memorable poems, as proved by a long prefatory poem and the poems in the third and final section (dealing mostly with his father's death and the breakup of his marriage). Here there is no posturing, no attempt to speak in any voice other than his own. Unfortunately, less than a third of a book isn't enough to recommend it.Rochelle Ratner, formerly of "Soho Weekly News," New York