I Think Again of Those Ancient Chinese Poets

This all-new collection by former Alaska poet laureate smoothly blends his life in Maine, his years in Alaska, and his love of Chinese poetry—which has been a key influence on his work—into a lyrical fantasy that will enchant lovers of verse. These tightly rhythmic, compact eight-line poems demonstrate a rare deftness with—and an even more uncommon ear for—language, revealing poetic form to be neither a puzzle nor an accomplishment in itself, but a compositional tool and a spur to creativity.

“This is a book to be read and returned to. There are fine poems here, all from the hand of someone who for many years has read and listened to the enduring voice of ancient Chinese poets. We have here the result of that attention.”—John Haines, former poet laureate of Alaska

John Haines

“In these poems, Tom Sexton weaves ancient Chinese poetry with an Alaska back country he knows intimately. The poems have teeth, and just when we feel them against our necks, we’re given a moment of reprieve, a moment of sweetness. These poems make you catch your breath over and over again.”—Emily Wall, author of Freshly Rooted

Emily Wall

“Tom Sexton’s front door opens into the universe. In the company of ancient Chinese poets he generously invites us to step out with him to see how stars, moon, tides, and time connect with yellow warblers, wild berries, dragonflies, and weather to give us meaning. . . . These poems are as wise and important as they are lovely.”—Sheila Nickerson, former poet laureate of Alaska

Sheila Nickerson

"I Think Again of Those Ancient Chinese Poets is a strongly recommended read. Not to be missed."—Midwest Book Review

Midwest Book Review

Tom Sexton was appointed Alaskas Poet Laureate in 1995 and served until 2000. He is the author of eight books of poetry.

Acknowledgments

Hurricane Station House

Aurora Borealis

Brown Bear

On Our Anniversary

Yellow Warblers

The Wolves of Denali

Baneberry

I Think Again of Those Ancient Chinese Poets

Winter Night

Clearing After Snow Over Mountains and River

Woodcut of a Crane

River Otters

Thinking of a Friends Cold Words

Snow

Strawberries

No Moon Tonight

Lilac

Grasses in the Marsh

Yet Another Poem About the Moon

Glacier

Mountain Spinach

Denali

Thinking of a Friend

August

To Wang Wei

An Empty Bowl

Arctic Char

Crossing a Marsh by Train

Watching Winter Light from Chulitna Butte

Morning Landscape, Early Spring

Coming Down from the Mountains into Mist

No Time for Metaphor

Ephemeral

Ermine

Leaving Again

Washington County, Maine

By Passamaquoddy Bay

Witch Hazel

Starlings

Late Afternoon

Robert Frost in Winter

Larch

Blackberries

Sedge Wren

Winterberry Holly

Tu Fu

House Sparrows

Decoy of a Snow Goose

Pasque Flower

Travelers Moon

Alder Thicket

Equinox

Su Tung Po

Bohemian Waxwings

Liqueur

A Painting of the Poet Meng Hao Jan

For Frances Gramse, Age 3, on the Winter Solstice

Winter Landscape: Fish Creek

To Wang Wei After Reading a New Translation of His Poems