Only Now

''Many of the poems in Stuart Kestenbaum's Only Now (Deerbrook Editions, 2014) feel like poems Gregory Orr would write if he wrote narrative poems (some of the meditative and lyrical poems also feel like Gregory Orr poems), a number of the poems have the mythical feel of a Merwin myth-like poem, and some have the intimacy of a Jack Gilbert poem. These styles, among others, are what one would need to successfully write a carpe diem book of poems, and neo-romantic book of poems, at that.'' -- Tom Holmes,

Stuart Kestenbaum named Maine's 5th Poet Laureate. Stuart has been promoting poetry for years reading at Haystack, and wherever he goes, not to mention a life of devotion to art and the humanities. His service to artists and the school of Haystack as director included almost daily reading of other poets, often Maine poets, taking time for what's important, is an example of the way, in small ways and in great ways, he contributes to the culture of Maine. He is currently the chair of the American Craft Council, for which he was elected an honorary fellow in 2006. He was also named an honorary member of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) during NCECA 's 50th annual conference in Kansas City, MO.