As the twentieth century comes to a close, Ken Norris continues to file his lyrical reports in a way that defines poetry "the art / of the possible." This instalment (Books 12-15) includes "The Book of Fire," "Island Stars" "Tenor," and "The Concertos." Some of these poems play with fire, some bring the tropical beauty of Fiji and Tonga alive, and some send up prayers for solace at the end of a frightening century. Both musical and documentary, Norris' work creates a vision of the poet as observer and as scribe, "taking down a letter to a loved one, /the world."

Ken Norris was born in New York City in 1951. He immigrated to Canada in the early seventies and became a Canadian citizen in 1985. Norris teaches Canadian Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Maine.