Snow Approaching on the Hudson

Modernist slice-of-life vignettes abound in this atmospheric collection from Kleinzahler (Before Dawn on Bluff Road). Eclectic points of interest converge, from the novelties of high society to the lives of prominent figures and strangers. Kleinzahler is adept at creating images that express the emotional qualities of environments: “Passenger ferries emerge from the mist/ river and sky, seamless, as one—/ watered ink on silk// then disappear again, crossing back over/ to the other shore, the World of Forms.” He particularly excels at animating strangers; in an empathetic and humanizing portrait, he describes a homeless man that shares the same park: “Shadow Man is out there now, always out there./ I can tell you where by the hour on the clock,/ under which tree, what corner of the park, almost as if he’s waiting for someone,/ someone who, when ready, will know to come find him there.” At times his tempo, plethora of references, and meagerly contextualized dialogue can alienate the reader. Nevertheless, Kleinzahler’s collection is akin to a bountiful meal—substantially pleasing and worth the investment if consumed at a leisurely pace. (Nov.)