At the Turning of the Light

At the Turning of the Light book cover

WHAT WE TEACH THEM

My daughter sits on the edge of her seat
so her legs can dangle and says,
her voice stretching the length of the bus,
That man looks like a monkey.

I flush, because he will never know
how much she likes monkeys,
how, at the zoo, we watch them endlessly
swinging through truncated trees. She says

they twinkle because they are having fun.
Perhaps the man would like to look
as if he’s having fun, but she and I discuss instead
hurt feelings and rudeness, until she stammers,

But I like the way he looks
and the man smiles, a real smile,
a smile that says connection, but she
now has a pinch of doubt.

Poem by CB Follett from "At the Turning of the Light."

LISTEN

Have you been listening to the voices of rain
how they linger behind your ears
how they wait with patience for your good attention
Consider the small lives beneath the shadows
how they weave this Earth together with you with us
Go out into the sounds of bark and soil
Listen this is a good moment
Close the Dutch doors Turn your back to the past
Drive down any road
and commit to horizons
Open your chambered heart
Be expectant
What’s out there can lead inside
the thin edge of miracles always out of reach
It’s not necessary to sound the trumpet
Lift your hesitant face to the light falling from trees
listen
Lift your hesitant face to the light falling from trees
It’s not necessary to sound the trumpet
the thin edge of miracles always out of reach
What’s out there can lead you inside
Be expectant
Open your chambered heart
and commit to horizons
Drive down any road
Turn your back to the past Close the Dutch doors
Listen this is a good moment
Go out into the sounds of bark and soil
how they weave this Earth together with you with us
Consider the small lives beneath the shadows
how they wait with patience for your good attention
how they linger behind your ears
Have you been listening to the voices of rain

Poem by CB Follett from "At the Turning of the Light."

REVIEWS

I spent two delightful days and nights browsing in this charming and sensitive book of outstanding poetry, and find every page I've read to be filled with wonderful poetry... the poems offer us a wealth of experience and feeling, always cogent and understandable, never obscure, in a joy of imagery and accuracy of persuasion. The author explores the potential of free verse with great economy and a fine sense of when to stop...Originality of imagery and use of poetic device sounds on every page.. Her poems reveal layers of insight and juxtaposition of reality and inner dreams and are readily accessible.
       This is a poetry book to enjoy repeatedly, and I am pleased to place it on my shelf of memorable poetry. It graces our national poetic image, and the author deservedly is called a gifted poet.
– Ursula T. Gibson, Poetry Editor, Poetic Voices

Living on this earth has inspired CB Follett mightily. Her poetry is alive, and reading it has made me more alive.”
– Jim Barnes, Managing Editor, Independent Publisher Online

CB Follett’s At the Turning of the Light defies definition. She combines power, dramatic intensity and a sweeping flow. Her voice is like an instrument creating elegiac and celebratory music. Whether she is dealing with the natural world, a world with which she is infinitely familiar or the inner world touching upon pain, her poems are full of striking images. Her gift of observation, her natural acceptance for whatever life presents whether it be loss or gain is tempered by her wit and ability to look at things, on occasion, deliciously askew. At the Turning of the Light is truly an appropriate title for the subtle variations and multiple layer shades that color this fine collection.
– Ruth Daigon

I love your sense of place, your identity with things of the earth, your sensitivity to people in your life. A poignant, powerful book. – Maureen Eppstein

At the Turning of the Light is an astonishing collection by a gifted poet. – Susan Terris

Your poems really spoke to me – I like their sinewy strength and the sense of a connection with the natural world…I found your poems fresh, surprising and overwhelmingly optimistic in a profound way….Frankly your poems make me happy!
– Maia Penfold