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They Speak of Fruit
by
A chapbook of poems by Gary L. McDowell.
Paperback, 34 pages
Published
October 31st 2009
by Cooper Dillon Books
(first published 2009)
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I have looked forward to finding and reading more of Gary McDowell's poetry ever since his poem "How Mosquitoes Came to Be" was featured in the first issue of Anti-. So, when I learned that Cooper Dillon's debut publication would be McDowell's chapbook, They Speak of Fruit, my fingers stood ready over my Paypal account ready to order. And when They Speak of Fruit arrived in my mailbox this week, I was not disappointed.
In the hands of McDowell, the natural earth becomes a world of imagination and ...more
In the hands of McDowell, the natural earth becomes a world of imagination and ...more

from They Speak of Fruit
Nectar
I found my history in the tiny
bones of a hummingbird, its beating heart
that could fill a thimble with its blood.
Its subtle feet and soft beak,
never again to fly sideways
or beat its wings faster
than a prayer can leave.
And for that, I offer a prayer:
hummingbird, fly into my mouth and lay
your head under my tongue.
Let me turn your death
against my teeth
and weigh it, and weigh myself.
Nectar
I found my history in the tiny
bones of a hummingbird, its beating heart
that could fill a thimble with its blood.
Its subtle feet and soft beak,
never again to fly sideways
or beat its wings faster
than a prayer can leave.
And for that, I offer a prayer:
hummingbird, fly into my mouth and lay
your head under my tongue.
Let me turn your death
against my teeth
and weigh it, and weigh myself.

Sep 25, 2009
F. Rzicznek
added it
A great little chap. Just the right size to sit down and take in all at once, but it manages to show terrific range. McDowell, in the span of about twenty or so pages, manages to challenge my expectations of the short lyric, the long meditative poem, as well as the narrative prose poem. Read, read, read it!

Sep 22, 2009
Gary McDowell
rated it
it was amazing
· (Review from the author)
Recommends it for:
everyone
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