Brett Foster is the author of two poetry books and a regular reviewer of contemporary poetry, new editions of older poets, and poetry in translation. His writing has appeared in <i>Books & Culture
The first portion of this review was published on Monday, June 2.
[http://www.curatormagazine.com/brett-foster/second-chances/]
With all due respect to the strengths of Patricia Smith’s Teahouse of the
Almighty,
Many pleasures accompany book reviewing, but occasionally some heartaches arise
as well, even if relatively small ones. For example, at the end of the year,
three years ago, I was invited to write
We bowed our heads before the meal
of chili and fresh bread. Our host
said, “Dear, would you say grace tonight?”
And then the teenager stammered,
mumbled “Dear God,” half distracted.
Before we
