A boat. A backyard. And a father building a boat big enough to contain his large family, not to mention their imagination...
In post-World War II suburban America, my father decided to build a boat—in our backyard. The boat became a member of our family, the talk of the neighborhood, and a litmus test of moral fiber. Memories of the boat, the characters and events of those days, and the power of place emerged during the years that followed my father’s death in 2001. Poems from the Boatyard is the result.
Set on Long Island NY, where life revolved around beaches, boats and clam shacks, Poems from the Boatyard invites you to prowl in and out of boatyards, including one in the backyard.
“In Poems from the Boatyard, Pat Butler…is our tour guide, leading us via stark, concise images through a past as vivid as right now. Butler weaves her narrative in verse, honestly, like one whose life depends on it. These poems hit hard, get straight to the point and you’ll want to experience them again and again. Just listen to this as Butler writes in “Riptides,”
“they go straight through you, and hold you down that one second longer
than lungs can hold air. The sand scrapes your knees, sears the skin
off knuckles and nose, and fills your bathing suit, teeth and ears.
You get pounded up the beach, legs over head, to surface with sand
in your mouth and salt in your eyes.”—Travis Wayne Denton, The Burden of Speech
“Poems from the Boatyard tells beautiful stories—whether the setting is the seashore, the city dump, or a dentist’s office. Quiet contemplation and spiritual connection undergird her witty and sometimes disquieting observations of the world at large.”—Rebecca Watts, MLIS, Freelance Editor & Librarian, Peachtree City, GA
“Poems from the Boatyard is a wonderful collection that often provides the reader with a nice combination of sounds and structure in poetry. This collection reads like a postcard from the sea written by a girl who’s been paying attention to every heartbeat that surrounds her and is not afraid to point out the contradictions of living. I can’t wait to see where Pat Butler will be traveling next.”—Robert Brewer, Editor, Poet’s Market
Poems from the Boatyard can be ordered through Finishing Line Press, www.finishinglinepress.com.
Featuring cover art by Uncle Jack. See "Uncle Jack's Attic" under "Artwork" tab.
In post-World War II suburban America, my father decided to build a boat—in our backyard. The boat became a member of our family, the talk of the neighborhood, and a litmus test of moral fiber. Memories of the boat, the characters and events of those days, and the power of place emerged during the years that followed my father’s death in 2001. Poems from the Boatyard is the result.
Set on Long Island NY, where life revolved around beaches, boats and clam shacks, Poems from the Boatyard invites you to prowl in and out of boatyards, including one in the backyard.
“In Poems from the Boatyard, Pat Butler…is our tour guide, leading us via stark, concise images through a past as vivid as right now. Butler weaves her narrative in verse, honestly, like one whose life depends on it. These poems hit hard, get straight to the point and you’ll want to experience them again and again. Just listen to this as Butler writes in “Riptides,”
“they go straight through you, and hold you down that one second longer
than lungs can hold air. The sand scrapes your knees, sears the skin
off knuckles and nose, and fills your bathing suit, teeth and ears.
You get pounded up the beach, legs over head, to surface with sand
in your mouth and salt in your eyes.”—Travis Wayne Denton, The Burden of Speech
“Poems from the Boatyard tells beautiful stories—whether the setting is the seashore, the city dump, or a dentist’s office. Quiet contemplation and spiritual connection undergird her witty and sometimes disquieting observations of the world at large.”—Rebecca Watts, MLIS, Freelance Editor & Librarian, Peachtree City, GA
“Poems from the Boatyard is a wonderful collection that often provides the reader with a nice combination of sounds and structure in poetry. This collection reads like a postcard from the sea written by a girl who’s been paying attention to every heartbeat that surrounds her and is not afraid to point out the contradictions of living. I can’t wait to see where Pat Butler will be traveling next.”—Robert Brewer, Editor, Poet’s Market
Poems from the Boatyard can be ordered through Finishing Line Press, www.finishinglinepress.com.
Featuring cover art by Uncle Jack. See "Uncle Jack's Attic" under "Artwork" tab.