As an admirer of Jake Adam York‘s poetry, clear-eyed lyrics springing from a humane and questing spirit, I’m happy to pass on this wonderful piece shepherded into the New York Times Magazine by Natasha Trethewey, whose term as U.S. Poet Laureate recently ended.
The poem is drawn from Jake’s posthumously published collection Abide, which is a finalist for the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award. The winner will be announced at the NBCC Awards Ceremony on March 12.
Absurd as it seems, I wish Jake good luck. Luck is often too late in coming to poets.
(h/t to my colleague Charles Stillwagon)