Alabama Writers’ Forum Reviews field recordings of mind in morning

Alabama Writers’ Forum has just published a wonderful review of Hank Lazer’s latest book, field recordings of mind in morning.

“Review by Edward Journey

The last time we checked in with poet Hank Lazer, author of thirty-two books of poetry and 2015 recipient of the Harper Lee Award, he was pondering themes of plague and survival, anger and calm, and life under a wannabe American autocrat in COVID19 SUTRAS. Lazer’s newest book, field recordings of mind in morning, includes writing in a less turbulent vein from pre-pandemic 2018 and 2019. With field recordings …, wisdom and solace emerge on every page, despite acknowledgements that “a planet in peril” dictates that “noticing is no longer enough.” On this planet, Lazer presciently writes, “we were / an entertaining / violent / short-sighted / interruption.”

At Duncan Farm on 7/5/18, Lazer evokes a time that is “quiet enough / so that / thinking / becomes / writing.” Such quiet moments permeate Lazer’s poetry in which an awareness of the minute quietly yields to the profound. These poems lack titles, but each is marked by the date on which it was written and, usually, the place. The majority are composed in the peace of Duncan Farm (“this restorative morning”), a family farm near Carrollton, Alabama. Others are written in New Orleans, Florida, San Francisco, and Paris. The poems are dated from April 2018 to October 2019. The more recent compositions comprise part 1. Parts 2 through 6, predating part 1, are presented chronologically.”

Read the whole review here

Buy the book here