Monday, February 12, 2018

101 Books, Number 42



42: Great Plains, 1989, by Ian Frazier (1951–)

I’ve loved the plains since I was young—
An Oklahoma boy, you know,
And sang with my young Southwest tongue
That “Oklahoma!” song—no glow

In my young voice—but still.The Plains!
We’d taken trips across the West—
In deserts and in driving rains—
But trips out West? For me: the Best!

And Frazier’s agile, thoughtful book
Delighted me, from first to last.
Such pleasure Ian Frazier took
In dealing with the land, the cast.

He grew up here in Hudson, and
We’ve met him many happy times.
We too both love that Western land
So noted for it heroes, crimes.

He writes for the New Yorker now—
Has written other books galore.
I’ve read them all (each earns a “Wow!”)—
But Great Plains made me yearn for more.

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