Provenance

Poetry. In PROVENANCE--her first collection and a a semifinalist for the Academy of American Poets' Walt Whitman prize--Brandel France de Bravo explores not only her own roots but the roots of words. Taking her cue from Ralph Waldo Emerson who said Every word was once a poem France de Bravo has written 26 poems-one for every letter-inspired by etymologies. Sharp-eyed sharp-tongued sharply etched and sharply worded Provenance is a book of alphabets and fables of narrative precision and verbal passion--Campell McGrath.