Tongue and Groove

by Chuck Rybak

As the title of his book suggests, Chuck Rybak is working to reconstruct, renovate, restore, repair the damaged house of the We'll learn to insulate and breathe/grade and drain away the damage/pooling in the corners of days. As the title also suggests, this rebuilding is an erotic undertaking because we must do it The ruined table spread across/the warm, hardwood floor. Let's not wait./Let's piece it together, starting now. And it must be done with Here is the anger that marked the wood./Here is the love that smoothed it. With a balanced and intelligent sympathy that is a measure of his disciplined commitment, Rybak writes rich, strong, and hopeful poetry that is true to the impossible task he sets for himself.--Andrew Hudgins, author of Ecstatic in the Poison and Babylon in a Jar What a pleasure it is to read poems that are actually about men and women, domesticity, myth and magic, life during wartime. In a voice that's distinctly American, Rybak questions without condemning, and even manages occasionally to bless.--Juliana Gray, author of The Man Under My Skin

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jenny Draxler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this. My favorites include, "Liketown" "Friends Who Play Dead" and "Dressing Agamemnon." All of these poems are terrific and I recommend this to anyone. Bravo, Dr. Rybak!