Spoonsful: The Complete Poems of Annette Johns

Brave and straightforward, this comprehensive volume represents one woman's lifetime of reflection, observation, and contemplation. Each short (but not usually sweet) poem reads quickly and easily, while the writing is clever, pensive, and surprising. Timeless references to nature, love, childhood, and everyday life are presented in unlikely and entertaining ways that can be a bit dark, but not overly so. Designed to be read cover to cover or by flipping through, this book is a great companion for anyone delighted by original imagery or exploring their own moods or mortality. The lyrical rhyme, simple language and a seriously playful tone are classically reminiscent of Emily Dickinson's work, but the variety and originality in Spoonsful has its own fresh, quirky style.

Rooted in the American Midwest, poet Annette Johns brings her inviting, accessible, and playfully dark poetry to light in this collection. Her experiences as a teacher, actor, philosopher, seamstress, watercolor artist, and museum coordinator have been inspiring and tiring. Married over fifty years with two grown children, Annette is not afraid to let everyday life inform her writing. She loves crossword puzzles, houseplants, bargain shopping, and cheering for professional sports on TV. She hates getting lost, except in her own mind. She has always maintained a rich curiosity about the outside world and her inner demons. Influenced by Poe and Dickinson, Annette has established her own voice: vulnerable, whimsical, usually brief, and forever inclined to provide sublime rhymes.