"Amongcornfields,junkyards,andaDairyQueen,theeclecticcast
ofRustinLarson'sLostLettersandWindfallsmarchesacrossarural
stage:anoldwomansmall'likeaburlapbag/fullofnylons,'family
members,angels,finches,thewind,themuse,andayounggirlina
Degaspainting.Thepoetasserts:'Thelightfallsuponallthings.I
have/mymemoryofyou--quietasa/pictureframeamongallthese
brokenhouses.'Inpoemafterpoem,Larsoncapturesimagesfirmly
castintimeyeteternal--evenslightlyholy:'Buthere'swhatweare:
eachman,eachwoman,/eachneuterobject,achurch.'"
"'Listen,'Larsonurges,'theworld/beginsinamoment.'The
momentsdescribedinthesepoemsarepainterlyandvivid.Thepoet
trustsonlyhis'senseoftouch.'Theyconjureaworldofisolated
stillnesswherecharacterscan'choosetostandoutsideofourselves
ifwewish,thesnowfalling.'Butalsoaworldofconnectionwhere
'planetsarefishing/forus,wanting/us'and't]hemoonisthe
friendoftheearth/andtheearthofthesun.'Thisisabookofsmall
tendernessesandlightningboltsthatwillstaywithyou."
RustinLarson'spoetryhasappearedinThe
NewYorker,TheIowaReview,andNorth
AmericanReview.Hewon1stEditor's
PrizefromRhinoandwasaprizewinnerin
TheNationalPoetHuntandTheChester
H.JonesFoundationcontests.Agraduate
oftheVermontCollegeMFAinWriting,
LarsonwasanIowaPoetatTheDesMoinesNationalPoetry
Festival,andafeaturedpoetatthePoetryatRoundTopFestival.
HeisapoetryprofessoratMaharishiUniversity,awritinginstructor
atKirkwoodCommunityCollege,andhasalsobeena
writinginstructoratIndianHillsCommunityCollege.
HishonorsandawardsalsoincludePushcartPrizeNominee
(seventimes,1988-2010);featuredwriter,DMACCCelebration
oftheLiteraryArts,2007,2008;andfinalist,NewEngland
ReviewNarrativePoetryCompetition,1985.