The Wolf in the Wood
by Jeanne Mahon
"Clearly written and sensuous in its particulars, grounded in the natural world, Mahon's poetry takes a path that leads us from childhood journeys to an adult realm where compassion and music prevail. She is a lithe story teller, inviting us in to share her feast of memory and insight. This is an accomplished book that deserves a large audience."
Jeanne Mahon believes
this line from Auden's
elegy for Yeats is true:
"Poetry makes nothing happen."
She also believes
poetry changed her life.
from The Wolf in the Wood
Who will sift
the bones
of horses from the river bed.
Who will lift the ribcage,
count the teeth, stand off
and imagine nostrils, the muzzle twitching
for sweets. How will they know
we combed the hairs of the mane and tail.
Down what star canyon will the new seeds
flash. Will they decode these
letters or guess
the alphabet was once
sketches of the flamingo
by the river, aloft.
How will they know
man so loved the horse
he gave it wings.
© 1996 Jeanne Mahon
Jeanne Mahon was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. She currently lives in Mercer, Pennsylvania, but routinely crosses the state line to meet with Fallen City Writers. Her poetry has been published in many literary journals, including: The Hiram Poetry Review, Cutbank, The Cimarron Review and West Branch. In 1984, she was the recipient of an individual grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Her first book of poetry, The Wolf in the Wood, was published in 1996 by Pangborn Books, Ltd. She is poetry editor of Shenango River Books, and most recently worked on Neno Perrotta's Not One Thing About Science which she recommends as one fascinating read. She enjoys giving readings of her work and is available to local book clubs, libraries, and study groups, whatever. Contact her at jeannemahon @hotmail.com.
The Wolf in the Wood is available for $8.00 (quantity discounts apply)
Order direct from:
Jeanne Mahon
84 Yankee Ridge Road
Mercer, PA 16137
jeannemahon
@hotmail.com
© 2004 Jeanne Mahon