Central Eye

For years I've considered myself lucky to be a reader and admirer of Judy Yarnall's poems. Yarnall brings the luminous small moments embedded in the ordinary to light-fleeting moments of encounter with others, a painting, a piece of music, one or another of her beloved cats, the view out the window, the smile of a satiated infant at her breast. Not all moments are glorious: looming in the magic of Christmas Night is the wind which 'blows and keeps on blowing.' Tender and wise and unafraid these poems are love songs to each moment the poet turns her central eye on. . . . This collection stirs the mystery in us again and again.

-Julia Alvarez, author of three poetry collections, and novels including In the Time of the Butterflies and most recently The Cemetery of Untold Stories.

Judith Yarnall's new collection of poems is a savory mix of joy and grief. It's no overstatement to say her poems are both beautiful and wise. They're brought to us with a spare musicality and a painter's eye.

-Tony Whedon, jazz musician and author of nine poetry and nonfiction collections.