Loon Lore: In Poetry & Prose [Paperback] Sullivan, William and Tryon, Leslie

In Loon Lore: In Poetry and Prose, Bill Sullivan explores his admiration for and attachment to the common loon, the ancient aquatic bird that migrates from the northern lakes of New England and beyond to wintering sites along the coast of Rhode Island, bringing a taste of wilderness and a sense of wonderment and delight to the dark days of winter. The poems consider the loon's past, present, and future in New England, recognizing that their future is ours as well. Interspersed prose reflections discuss native oral tales and myth, the ice age, Thoreau and wilderness, oil spills, bird migrations, concepts of time, and loon survival given the ecological challenges of our day. Illustrator Leslie Tryon has rendered soft pencil drawings throughout the book.

William Sullivan before retiring to Westerly, Rhode Island, taught English and American studies at Keene State College. He has co-authored two volumes in the Twayne series on American poetry: Modern American Poetry 1865 – 1950, and Containing Multitudes, Poetry in the United States Since 1950; and has co-produced two documentary films: Here I am, Send Me: The Journey of Jonathan Daniels and The Farmer is the Man. Sullivan’s poetry has appeared in numerous print and online publications, including Origami Poems, Providence Journal, Westerly Sun, Wickford Art Association: Poetry and Art, and Babel Fruit.

Leslie Tryon is the author and illustrator of the Albert series of books for children, including the ALA Notable book, Albert’s Alphabet. She also illustrated a series written by Alma Flor Ada, and created drawings for the Los Angeles Times as well as numerous children’s magazines.