Richard Wilbur Award-winning Book: Preview 2

Preparing the exhumation of the remains of Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda

Looks like The Frangible Hour should be available by December 6. Will keep you updated. Below is a second preview poem,  "Exhuming Neruda". Pablo Neruda's (1904-1973) real name was Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto.

Exhuming Neruda

Poet’s story becomes a murder mystery: Chile exhumes Pablo Neruda’s remains (CNN Headline, April 10, 2013)

At Isla Negra, Neftalí, you sang of joy and pain,

of poverty, Matilde, birds, of artichokes and rain.

And once at Isla Negra, they searched each corner of

your hideaway, but all they found was bread and wine and love.

And now at Isla Negra, they are digging up your bones;

they’ll fly them to the capital then rearrange the stones.

At Isla Negra, Neftalí, far from the abattoirs,

a leaf drifts to the earth amid the keen of grass and stars.


 -- Catherine Chandler

View of the sea from Pablo Neruda's home on Isla Negra