We, like Achilles, know it will end,
and when we can, we tell a story
to brighten that dark transit.
In his new poetry collection, Richard Gilmore Loftus brightens the gloom with words that transform everyday moments. A flash of sunlight, a running child, the gleam of wet paint-these are enough to inspire a poem.
Loftus tackles ambitious topics-the circularity of birth and death, the pursuit of love, and the beauty and power of nature. And yet he has a light, vibrant voice that makes his poetry flow easily. His lines bounce around the reader's mind, making every image thrilling and unpredictable. Loftus's verse organically wanders into both the light of revelation and the darkness of memory. In "Among the Sonnets," a man browsing in a bookstore suddenly thinks of a lost love, while in "Sea Chantey," rain at night becomes a siren's song.
Subtle yet profound, these poems address the enduring yearnings that consume and bind us as humans. Loftus's writing is challenging but accessible; and in his verses, you might just recognize yourself. Prepare to be dazzled and exhilarated by the brilliant insights and the striking language of Dress Whites.
About the Author: Richard Gilmore Loftus had a nomadic upbringing, spending time in the Midwest, Greenwich Village, Dublin, and Mallorca; in later years, finding his way to South Africa and Rwanda. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in English literature and history, and worked in the tech and computer industries. Dress Whites is his first full-length collection.
Currently, Loftus lives and writes in Michigan, where he also enjoys playing piano and violin, walking with his dog, and building wooden boats.
