Lines from the Provinces offers poems that speak in the long tradition of American poetry connected to place, trying to discover if it is reasonable to "want lines to tether us to something / after all." Poet David Wright demonstrates an impressive range, from short lyrics to rolling, Whitmanlike lines, as he guides us through the physical landscapes of the Illinois prairie and down the Red Line of Chicago's "L." In the process, he explores the emotional and spiritual territories of grief, wonder, and pleasure, avoiding cliché in favor of concrete language that takes the risk of "fooling us into belief, / into hope that our skin can sing, that joy is native to our hands / and as ordinary as song."

Samples from Lines from the Provinces: "Beethoven's Romance in G" & "Prayer and Fugue for Two Hands" (Mennonite Life, December 2001) "Wild Bird Feeder" (in 2River View, Winter 2000)  Use Real Audio to hear David Wright reading: "Beethoven's Romance in G" "Tonight" Read an interview about this book: One Skilled in the Art: Q&A with David Wright by Kari Abate Here's an unhappy review of the book. But wait, here's a happier review.

Reviews and comments "In these vivid, urgent poems David Wright contends--sometimes angrily, often tenderly--with a whole series of his crucial loves and adversaries: family, landscape, history, faith, his fellow poets and teachers. Among this welter his voice rings out, modest but stubborn, gentle but keen, funny but quite serious, and always alert for the secrets to be found in such canny, lyrical explorations of the provinces." —Jeff Gundy, author of Rhapsody with Dark Matter and A Community of Memory "These poems are haunting, beautifully crafted." —Alison Gresik, author of Brick and Mortar "Wright challenges the reader, but consistently from a position of humility—he is another on the journey. . . Wright takes us into the close places of his life, but only it seems, after having learned not to elevate 'private grievance into highest horrific display'. . . Coming along with Wright, though, you don't realize complicity until it is too late; he asks for nothing except your companionship, which is also the most one can ask." —Paul Dyck, Journal of Mennonite Studies "Throughout, Wright manages to touch deeply without the outlandish, shock value stuff so often found in academic poetry.  That alone sets the work apart. In the collection's final offering, "Lines From The Provinces," Wright ends the collection where it began, in the open spaces of the land. Here he is fighting to keep his art from being contained, while still living ? as we all must do in the real world - within some kind of established boundaries.  David Wright's work is quality craftsmanship that can be shared and appreciated by a wide audience. I highly recommend it." —David Bishop, Decatur Magazine  "I came across David Wright's book, Lines from the Provinces, and after reading a sample, I knew I'd found a kindred spirit. David's locale is that of the rolling prairie,and his style is, of course, contemporary. But his heart and spirit are closely akin to the great southern poets like Allen Tate and John Crowe Ransom. When you read his work, you are immediately plunged into the world he creates with language and metaphor." —Kay Day, author of Perfect Words  "The poems in this well-crafted volume cross many lines and cover many topics, but each and every one resonates with a life of its own . . . drawing us into his world and evoking a kaleidoscope of imagery to consume our thoughts long after we have finished his work. David's work has a natural intensity that forces the reader to listen closely, to concentrate on what he is saying, like a public speaker whispering to his audience to better impart his message." —Joseph Nassise, author of Riverwatch "Rich and thoughtful poems. A treat." —John Knoepfle, author of poems from the sangamon, recipient of the Illinois Literary Heritage Award (1995)