Description

The poems in Straddle, David Cavanagh's fourth collection, explore the perils and possibilities in living on borders, both physical and psychic. Cavanagh is a dual citizen who lives near the U.S./Canadian line; the poems suggest that we are all border dwellers. They probe the inner/outer balance we all struggle to maintain. They straddle the challenges of daily life, try to reconcile contradictions, and find a measure of grace. Whether dealing with love, the environment, loss of loved ones, gun violence, frozen lakes, Canada-U.S. relations, or email from God, the poems brim with fresh language and clear vision. David Cavanagh lives in Burlington, Vermont. "Cavanagh's best poems achieve not only clarity but also a poignancy that derives from simple wisdom expressed with great vividness and grace."--World Literature Today