Talking in the Dark

Whether homages to “Old Cadillacs” or reflections on “Why We Need Poetry,” these poems demonstrate Wesley McNair’s ability to tell a life in a line and to disclose the knowledge of the heart. How McNair’s characters talk about their difficulties ― or why they can’t ― is central to this collection, as are meditations in which the poet speaks directly to the reader about the trials and affirmations of human experience.