The Feast of the Virgins and Other Poems

A sweeping, lyrical tribute to the American heartland, this collection opens with a grand ode to the Mississippi—its currents imagined as a living monarch that has witnessed ancient battles, the rise of empires, and the quiet toil of hunters and farmers. The poet blends mythic imagery with historical hints, letting the river’s “royal arms” cradle forests, plains, and bustling cities, while the cadence of the verses conjures both the thunder of waterfalls and the soft murmur of birch‑caneoes gliding through mist.

Beyond the opening prelude, the poems wander through varied landscapes: from the rugged highlands to the golden grain fields, from the haunting calls of loons to the fierce cries of warriors. Each piece captures a fragment of a larger tapestry—nature’s grandeur, human ambition, and the lingering spirits of a bygone era—inviting listeners to linger on the timeless dialogue between land and lore.