From the Back Cover
The world of John McAuliffe's first book is surprisingly
populous, even social. Many of the poems are grounded in speech and
conversation and see `different things in the same light'. He is
consistently alert to that moment when one thing changes into another or
clarifies into unexpected meaning.
His book is every bit as good as I hoped it would be. McAuliffe's got the
gift. Mark the name. His sure hand is apparent in every line: syntax and
pulse in the service of experience. This poet's sense of shape and design
provides structures that highlight his felicities of movement, texture and
observation. No cheap flourishes, no ingratiating mannerisms, just the
real stuff, hard-won, handsomely brought off. This guy's the total
package, as we say over here about our young, star athletes.
- August Kleinzahler