The Ghost of You and Me by Wesley McNair

Philip Levine recommends
The Ghost of You and Me, poems by Wesley McNair: “I wonder if Maine is half as interesting as the poetry Wesley McNair has written about the place. He finds so many skewed and irresistible characters who manage to get into odd situations for which there is only one remedy: to persevere. In this new collection he strikes me as one of the great storytellers of contemporary poetry, a poetry which has largely given up narratives, perhaps because they require people other than the poet or in addition to the poet, a challenging task for solipsists . . . Never before have I found McNair’s brand of humor so subtle and affirming. Nor when he wanders from his tales can I recall him writing such perfect small lyrics about damn near anything.” (Godine)