Poetry

Some Church

“Equally at home with the silly and the sublime.” —BILLINGS GAZETTE
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In Some Church, David Romtvedt defines the intersection of a person’s political, social, and spiritual life. Offering perspectives both intimate and expansive in nature, these poems are informed by Romtvedt’s world—both the immediate, rural landscape of his home in Wyoming, and by sociopolitical forces outside his control. In a voice that ranges from ambling to angry, Romtvedt captures the essence of the American West in the tradition of Robert Frost, William Carlos Williams, and Allen Ginsberg.

In these poems, Romtvedt pulls together the absurd details and grievances of life: a dying neighbor whose tree is occupied by vultures, a daughter who is tear-gassed at a peace rally, the march of pickup trucks headed for a Bob Dylan show, even a yellow rubber figurine of the Buddha with a cell phone; all are fodder for his poetic imagination. Above all, these poems speak to an American consciousness, both at home and abroad, and an arching dedication to personal obligations.

ISBN
9781571314222
Publish Date
Pages
96
Dimensions
6 × 9 × 0.31 in
Weight
5.2 oz

Praise and Prizes

  • “It is nice to hear from this poet who at his best gathers what is serious and what is dreamy and what is funny and makes them stand up together. David Romtvedt is like a loyal consul who represents a species that has done some terrible things: undeluded, he still loves us, and keeps laying out more high-hearted policies for us all.”

    Carol Bly
  • “David Romtvedt’s poems contain a light whose source can’t be traced without deep immersion. This leaves room for understanding while allowing the mysteries of language to proceed. Romtvedt has been one of our best poets for several decades, and a new book from him changes the poetic map.”

    Bloomsbury Review
  • “Accessible, narrative verse that takes stock of family history, politics and life in rural America … David Romtvedt frequently attains a breathtaking clarity.”

    Minneapolis Star Tribune
  • “As congenial as a conversation among friends when no one is in a hurry and everyone has something interesting to say … Full of intelligence and wit, equally at home with the silly and the sublime, this book both challenges and entertains.”

    Billings Gazette
  • “David Romtvedt is Everyman (and woman): His poems make it easy to recognize our common stake in world affairs.”

    Library Journal