canvas: poems - Softcover

Morehead, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1736789007 ISBN 13: 9781736789001

Publisher: Viewless Wings Press, 2021

Synopsis

"James Morehead's Canvas opens itself to the poetry of everyday life, where stanzas are etched in sand, and poems end in sunset. Combining micro-narratives of Boston bullies cornering a young boy, with minute descriptions of time in quarantine, it draws us into moving tableaus of tenacious attention to what went down, what might come up, and where we might find ourselves. These are poems to be savored, re-read, kept handy for those times when only poetry will do."‒ W. J. T. MITCHELL, Senior Editor of Critical Inquiry and Gaylord Donnelley Distinguished Service Professor, English and Art History, University of Chicago In his debut collection, James Morehead paints powerful images of life, love, and loss through the thoughtful selection and careful placement of words. "canvas" features the extraordinary art of Kari Byron and Alla Tsank. The year 2020 and its pandemic-induced solitude inspired the poems that lead this collection. Most are autobiographical, in particular the title poem “canvas,” and collectively form a fragmented memoir of memories and melancholy. Some are fanciful, like “tethered,” inspired by a fleeting image seen while hiking the Pacific coastline. All strive to paint images in the reader’s mind through the power of poetry. “James creates an enchanting melody of poetic sound for the reader page after page. He notices life’s details with a tender yet precise eye, down to the ‘streets glistening with midnight rain’ and ‘summer bursting outwards / fierce from its slumber.’ Using this keen observation, James breaks past life’s routines to uncover gems of beauty. To read Canvas is to be transported to a world infused with meaning and memory.” - Morgan Liphart, author of Barefoot and Running

About this title

About the Authors

James Morehead is currently Poet Laureate for Dublin, California. canvas: poems is his debut collection, and he hosts The Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast (available on all major podcast streaming platforms). James' poem tethered was transformed into a hand drawn animated short film.

Kari Byron is an artist and Producer, STEM/STEAM Advisor, Board Member of EXPLR. Byron has hosted multiple popular series including MythBusters and Crash Test World.

From the Back Cover

sipping tea in samarkand

a nestled perch

on concrete stilts

an eerie cove

in shadows glow

from sunlight seeping

patterned walls

open air a warmer breeze

so strangely whispers

this hidden space

on kneeling mats and

wooden slats

a simple teacup held in place

From the Inside Flap

In his debut collection, James Morehead paints powerful images through the thoughtful selection and careful placement of words.

Edition details

• Publisher: Viewless Wings Press
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1736789007
• ISBN 13: 9781736789001
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Byron Kari
• Number of pages: 124