Mouth Toward Sky

<p>Grounded with Pacific Northwest images true to the author’s life as a fourth-generation Oregonian the poems explore loving relationships growing and being a Mom in these times.  Some have personal views of historical events—learning of the Kennedy assassination while in middle school German class; teaching about Hiroshima; the Vietnam memorial and explaining it to a child age 5; trying to hang a father’s flag after 9/11. The collection includes a “poem of the week” from <em>Poets Against the War </em> and award winners from the Oregon Poetry Association. Several of the poems include lines that eventually became <em>Peace Leaves </em>the author’s series of gift poems letterpressed onto leaf-shaped fine arts papers.</p><p> </p><p>Included is a poem called “Drinking Rain” which quotes son Nate as a child who put his mouth toward the sky; hence the title. <em>Mouth Toward Sky</em> also denotes speaking out. <strong>The cover art</strong> includes a woodcut print from artist Debby Neely of a red-winged blackbird with it’s mouth open toward the sky and one poem features these birds.</p><p> </p><p>Here’s what Marvin Bell has to say about the book: Gerry Foote‘s poems are embedded in events central to the American experience of student teacher parent and citizen here expressed with an irresistible warmth and care. Open-eyed by turns grounded and romantic hers is a truly humanitarian sensibility and as such a welcome pleasure in any age.</p>