C. Dale Young

This is a powerful collection of poems based on the image of a boy-angel all too human and blessed with wings. Confounding the presentation is an accident in which the poems' narrator was nearly killed by a drunk driver and "lost days"--as well a a certain innocence. Young depicts a dazzling array of emotion: secret pride, deep shame, self-destructive anger, and a fascination with human form. The halo is both the Neck brace post-accident as well as the angelic halo befitting a man with wings, an almost angel, almost god. Searing imagery permeates throughout and Young never loses control or lets his imagery stray from focus on angels and wings and difference. Magnificent short collection and extra kudos for the many Boston references!… (meer)