“Indeed, the best poets recognize that language, like a single atom, must be ruptured in order to unbridle all the energies buried deep inside.” — Sarah D’Stair

“The three collections I’ve chosen satisfy my desire for specificity. They lean into the peculiar particular and press on the pulse of language that reminds us that there is more wonder to be found in our world. ” Laura Villareal on Emily Stoddard, Karen Rigby, and Brandom Som.

“Kelly’s hermetic temperament and fable-like staging feel tethered not to a particular era, but to the larger through-line of lyric poetry. Her engagement with the human and animal world remains as timeless as her interests in moral negotiations and neglect, and the limitations of attentiveness and self-awareness …”