The Litter of Leaving: Collected Poems

In his newest book of poetry, E.M. Beekman has assembled a riveting collection of poems focusing on the trivia, pain, humor, romance, and consolations of a full and interesting life. Based on the premise that poetry is appropriate clutter for a prolific writer and wordsmith to leave as a legacy, the poems chronicle Beekman's life experience and search for beauty and truth in an unsettled, often cruel and disappointing world. Beekman's intellectually sensuous poetry reflects a lifetime love affair with language. His passion for words shines through every carefully wrought line elevating ordinary life events to a stark and powerful level.

E.M. Beekman is professor of Germanic languages at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a noted scholar and translator of Dutch colonial literature. He is the author of more than two dozen books including novels, short stories, scholarly works, and poetry.