It is generally agreed that of all the literary forms, it is in poetry with its economy of language that every word matters. It's easier to hide a lazy word, a complacent phrase, or a barely breathing sentence in an essay or a novel. But lethargic writing has nowhere to loiter and nowhere to hide in poetry. This collection of poetry, while tight in its word budget, is rich in language, extravagant in imagination and imagery, and generous in meaning. The poet here is a keen observer of natural wonders and human nature, with each poem telling a story that draws the reader in to its place and characters. Rarely does a poet have such an insightful window to both the world outside us and the world inside us. Accessible and relatable, the poet handles his subjects with a wisdom and wit that assures readers will smile and claim several poems as new favorites. As seen in the title poem, Voice Lessons is a collection that hits all the right notes.