Joyful Orphan

Mark Irwin is the author of eleven collections of poetry, including his most recently published work, Shimmer. His poems have appeared in The American Poetry Review, Atlantic Monthly, The Nation,The New York Times, and Paris Review. Recognition for his work includes The Nation/Discovery Award, two Colorado Book Awards, four Pushcart Prizes, the James Wright Poetry Award, the Philip Levine Prize for Poetry, and fellowships from the Fulbright, Lilly, and NEA. A professor in the PhD in Creative Writing & Literature Program at the University of Southern California, he lives in Los Angeles and rural Colorado.

"Joyful Orphan is skilled, masterful work."—Sherwin Bitsui, Navajo writer and poet, author of Flood Song"This collection is a deft and elegant lyric address, beautifully inclusive, to all the issues now of greatest concern."—Donald Revell, professor of English, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and author of The English Boat"Joyful Orphan a beautiful book of poems that, while quiet and often domestic, have a long, larger view."—Sasha Steensen, professor of English, Colorado State University, and author of House of Deer"Joyful Orphan raises the question of belonging, and chooses the position of the orphan, who in Mark Irwin's ecstatic poems, finds home everywhere. Who goes farther than that?"—Claudia Keelan, professor of English, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, editor of Interim, and author of eight collections of poetry, including We Step into the Sea

• ContentsI. GoGoesVertigoBalloonThe DeadLightLetterAliveCoupleBlue, RedNotre-Dame of Paris, 2019StoryLivestreamTree, RiverHoverThe LifeII. HomeWas into SpaceHolidayEdgesJoyful OrphanAshThe smaller houseArrivalHow long?Library of Water3DFamilyWhy—WeFacesHungryRadianceWildernessBright in June SunIII. WildNike of SamothraceLegendAll the tiny arrowsJust onceGiftLivestreamEnglishPlaster of ParisSpring, 2020NearerVariation on a Phrase by DickinsonTrailer for a Movie not yet Made1937 Indian Head NickelLa liberté libreThirstPinprickThree PanelsYetRefrainNotesAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author