Waters of the Recluse

Asked what the book Waters of the Recluse is about, the author replied, “Simply, the title alludes to the context in which the poems were written. Writing, apparently, is a lonely pursuit. The premise is that these poems were composed in solitude. As a result, the poems are, perhaps, introspective, even when addressed to or involving others [we and our are conventions referring to company]. The poems were written, recited, and now exist in isolation. “The presence of water denotes this introspection. Water as an image visits each piece. It predominates as a motif in its various states: rain, ice, seas, lakes, etc. Water is protean, so it informs the relationship the poems have with dreams. These poems, in terms of composition and imagery, strive to capture the characteristics of water: fluency, mutability, and adaptability to whatever form it occupies. The virtues of water are essential to the art/craft of poetry. “So reclusion and water—fluidity—are the context in which these poems thrive. In that sense, these poems are exploratory.”