Eleanor Speak

<p>Nan Ottenritter's poems have guts. They dare to confront the evils of our time to insist on history too many of us have forgotten to face our mortality and to fly as lyrically as Baryshnikov without fear of falling.</p><p><strong> -James Penha</strong> editor of <em>TheNewVerse.News</em></p><p><br></p><p>Through a prism of artistes heroines and mother figures Nan Ottenritter peers behind the drapes of history grief age and survival itself. Familiar figures Agatha and Eleanor come to life from dusty pages and we find new humility and understanding from Florence and Camille. Little Lincoln's mother catches us at our core and the author's own battle with cancer catches at our breath. It is a book that celebrates the female that alchemical mix of perseverance and grace with the potential to raise a daughter full of sparks dying // on their way to the heavens. A book that will make you want to call your mom.</p><p><strong> -Joanna Lee</strong> author of <em>Dissections</em> and founder of River City Poets</p><p><br></p><p><em>Eleanor Speak</em> celebrates women among other things-from Camille Claudel to a greasy-spoon waitress from an oncology nurse in Boston to <em>Notre-Dame de Paris</em> herself. Nan Ottenritter<strong> </strong>roams history and observes life with equal parts intelligence compassion and restless curiosity. In her acknowledgments she thanks the written and spoken word noting what an excellent puzzle it is to translate life into symbol and sound. Indeed-and how exciting it is to watch this poet emerge from her chrysalis stretch her new wings and take dazzling flight.</p><p><strong> -Douglas Jones</strong> author of <em>Songs from Bedlam</em></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>