Only So Many Autumns

Betsy Joseph's initial collection of poetry is both vast and intimate. She combines the rural wisdom of Frost with the deep personal insights of Bly, then folds in the economy of language made familiar by the late Mary Oliver to create a powerful, playful, and often poignant recitation of the true American experience. From intricate lyrical ballads to brief but precise works that read like quiet prayers, she masters both impact and form, singing open a window into a life fully lived. In this homage to the joys and angst of a woman negotiating the relations and relationships of romance, family, work and the mortar holding it together, Joseph has produced a revelation out of something ordinary.