<DIV><P>Mark Irwin&rsquo;s poetics are a direct descendent of Rilke and Hart Crane. His poetry is propelled by charged rhythms and a haunting music. &ldquo;An impeccable craftsman, Mark Irwin writes with a lyrical urgency that somehow combines the brilliance of Valery and the natural ease of observation of William Carlos Williams.&rdquo; &mdash;David St. John</P><P>Mark Irwin is the author of four previous collections of poetry, two of them with BOA. Among his literary awards are National Endowment for the Arts and Ohio Art Council Fellowships, two Push-cart Prizes, the James Wright Poetry Award and a Fulbright Fellow-ship to Romania. He lives with his family in Denver, Colorado, and spends a part of each year on a wilderness ranch in the San Luis Valley.</P></DIV>