The Goddess of Goodbye, Poems by James R. Whitley
The poems of James R. Whitley’s The Goddess of Goodbye dance all the way toward death, not in resignation but in celebration of life lived in defiance of its inevitable end:
Another life
leaves behind
its debris, its residue,
faith limps
away from yet
another devastation.
Sample Poems by James R. Whitley
“James R. Whitley, who tells in one poem of a fallen priest, writes as a kind of fallen priest himself, one who finds more eloquence in the mess of everyday experience than he ever would have in a lofty pulpit. Still a sanctity remains; everything he looks upon is blessed. This is an accomplished, unsparing, and inspiring book of poems.”—Kate Bernadette Benedict, Editor, Umbrella
“The Goddess of Goodbye is an extraordinary book for defying convention in every way. Like the stark, romantic streets of a Charles Burnett film retold through the wide-eye lens of Elizabeth Bishop, Whitley illustrates how the estrangement of death leads to a search for answers in the place of his youth. These poems always uncover the truth and, above all, instruct us on the value of human introspection—at every moment in our lives.”—Michael W. Pollock, Editor, First City Review
“These poems go beyond analysis and straight to the heart. Courage resonates on every page. This collection is one of healing and compassion, of respect and acceptance. Whitley has a gift for pulling us into the stories he tells within these poems. We are transported to the place and events of the scuff marks encoded on the floor, the sweet dark center of a rum-soaked raisin, the worm at the bottom of an empty tequila bottle. The Goddess of Goodbye is powerful writing.”—Leilani Squire, Editor, Gentle Strength Review
James R. Whitley's poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize as well as The Best of the Net and has appeared in numerous literary publications, including Barrelhouse, Controlled Burn, Gargoyle, Pebble Lake Review, Poetry Southeast, and River City. Whitley's first poetry book Immersion (Lotus Press) won the Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award. His second book This Is the Red Door (Ironweed Press) won the Ironweed Press Poetry Prize. He currently lives in Springfield, MA.
ISBN 978-1934999707, 104 pages, $18.00