Poetry. Murray Shugars may find his 'lost apotheosis of absence' somewhere on the road between Michigan and Mississippi, or perhaps he may never find it at all. It doesn't matter: the record he leaves of his search are these charming, crafty poems, smartly probing into the everyday details of provincial life and turning magically into private rituals before our eyes. here is a poet who casually invites García Lorca to stay with him in Vicksburg, who is on good terms with Lilith, and occasionally plays cards with God. these are poems to be savored like good bourbon, like Bill Evans at the piano. they are 'hazel and amaranth, cypress and madwort.' They're the real deal.--Norman Finkelstein
