Irene McKinney

This is a beautiful collection of poetry by West Virgnia's Poet Laureate. Inherent within the whole of the poems is a beautiful understanding of place. The various locations throughout her poetry make themselves known and felt, and her poems often don't simply see the place as it is now, but rather the whole of its past and all of the meaning within stretching out into its distance, layer upon layer, all melding together. There's weight to her poetry, and I adore that.

The Oneida poems are collected in this book as well (though I don't know if perhaps she's published more?) Regardless, I recommend you read the note at the back of the book prior to digging into that section. Through poetry, she tells the story of that cult, its beliefs, and its final persecution. It's a fascinating character study through several generations and a beautiful, respectful view of a rather strange set of beliefs.

I loved this collection of poetry, and I'm really looking forward to reading more by [a: Irene McKinney|293331|Irene McKinney|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].… (more)

This is a collection of writing from West Virginia. Many of the pieces are quite good, but I have one problem with the book; the picture it paints of this beautiful state is dismal at best. It is not the West Virginia I know! The one portrayed in this book is backwards, depressing, poverty-ridden, and hopeless. Only the last 2 authors depicted the state in the way I see it, Jayne Ann Phillips and Louise McNeill. Not that the other writers aren't talented - they are - but I was hoping for a more positive point of view!… (more)