Prairie Smoke: Poems from the Grasslands by Clara Bush Vadala

“The poems of Prairie Smoke, like the northern prairies, are sites of stark outlines and subtle differences, of resilience and vulnerability, and marvels revealed through quietness and careful attention.  Clara Bush Vadala recognizes that in the 21^st Century, nature is historical, and therefore, moral.  Here she presents a world both damaged and resurgent, in language both youthful and wise—and enlivened with personal longing.”

 –William Wenthe, author of Words Before Dawn

“Clara Bush Vadala’s poems travel the rural byways of North Dakota and Minnesota; they are poems of careful observation, infused with a naturalist’s great respect for each furred and feathered individual.  Though in “Moose Country,” Vadala describes young people “too much bored with life to enjoy it,” that is not her malady. Her poems celebrate, smile, and laugh.  They are generous and open; every subject– from moose to skunk to tick–becomes part of a fresh and vigorous landscape.  Love is also celebrated in the wonderful poem “Longing” where Vadala asserts “I would rather lose my eyes  // than forget what you look like.”  I hope to see more poems and take more travels with this poet.”

–Diane Hueter, author of After the Tornado