Woman with Crows

<p>April J. Asbury's debut poetry collection <em>Woman with Crows</em> explores the roles of women from childhood to adulthood. From Big-Kid Legends to The Obituary Phase of Life Asbury weaves together the voices of myth folklore and family story. What emerges is a vibrant tapestry of family love and loss.</p><p> </p><p>Crystal Wilkinson author of <em>Birds of Opulence </em>suggests the poems delve into mythologies old and new. Mina from <em>Dracula </em>makes an appearance as do the unnamed sister of Icarus and a certain sleepy apple-eating princess.</p><p> </p><p>Many of the poems explore traditional tasks such as cleaning canning and caregiving as Rita Quillen author of <em>Wayland</em> and <em>Some Note You Hold. </em>These are poems of the complex social contract Quillen says that women sign without knowing it. Keeping the family history preserving the stories as efficiently as the summer's harvest <em>Woman with Crows </em>feels the weight of the past while flying toward survival.</p><p> </p><p>This is a book engaged with deeper more difficult beauties of the world according to Diane Gilliam author of <em>Kettlebottom </em>and <em>Dreadful Wind & Rain.</em> These poems have a wingspan that gathers both light and dark silence and voice this side and the other.</p><p> </p><p>From this side to the other <em>Woman with Crows </em>prepares to make journey both familiar and strange . . . But always full of wonder.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>