At the Threshold of Alchemy

At the Threshold of Alchemy is a brutally realistic book of poetry. By immersing himself in the particular details of his most meaningful moments, John Amen transforms hurt into poems that are both imagistic & lyrically expressive. With metaphoric daring and offbeat grace, he guides us through haunting and sometimes violent memories of roving through America's southland. Includes the major 260 line poem-sequence ��ortraits of Mary,��hailed by poet Jared Smith as ��erhaps the most complex, intricate, and thoroughly honest love poem in all of contemporary poetry.�� Holding a compass below the stars, his surreal imagery unfolds like origami. A thoroughly human book of memorable poems of great intensity by one of our best younger poets.