In Search of Small Gods
by Jim Harrison
Cooper Canyon (2009)
* * *
For the last fifty days or so, I’ve been reading Jim’s new poetry book as slowly as I can. I finished last week but I still feel unable to express my thoughts about this beautiful collection of poems.
Small Gods is 
mostly about the present; however, this collection of poems urges readers to look back and reflect on their place in time in order to gain a new understanding about their short time remaining.
Through this beautiful poetry, it is apparent the time Jim spent reflecting on his own mortality and one cannot help but indulge in reflecting on his own mortal state. However, this is not to say the vibrant spirit of this great writer is not alive in this collection.
I find “Another Old Mariachi” and “Tomorrow” to be two of my favorites. “Eleven Dawns with Su Tung-p’o” has encouraged me to revisit this great Chinese poet soon. 
To all Jim’s fiction fans: Don’t skip this little jewel of prose poetry. It’s a beautiful side to this great American writer.
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