Among the Believers
The language of Among the Believers is alive. The slant couplets, the vigorous and exact meters, the plain yet vivid diction, make the old words sing and the new words seem inevitable. The narratives and dramatic monologues are spoken with an awesome intensity, recalling bothethe harsh times and the spirituality of the mountain past. The poems evoke a special feeling for the ceremonial mysteries of everyday life, and they are haunted by mortality, while turning to honor the dead. With his fresh, surprising voice, Ron Rash creates a living past. _Robert Morgan