An Early Afterlife

It's been said that the primary responsibility of poets is to remind us that we must die. As its title suggests, Pastan's (Heroes in Disguise) ninth book does precisely this. The atmosphere of the collection is autumnal; the clear, spare considerations of mortality are set against a backdrop of vividly colored trees and leaf smoke, the season ``mimicking/ the seasons of the flesh/ which are real and final.'' Pastan's strong title poem departs from these usual emblems, however, and ``Almost an Elegy'' digs deeper into the complex emotions that must accompany thoughts of one's own mortality, despite an expected reference to ``November's leafy rags in which you wrap yourself.'' Other poems, such as ``The English Novel,'' refer less directly to the book's theme; ``Novel'' relaxes into long lines and playful speculations about writing, the family and nature. In all, the poems are lucid and well crafted; their endings snap shut with closure. Yet while they are aesthetically satisfying, they may leave some readers wishing for less resolution, especially given the topic of death, which epitomizes ultimate closure-but also ultimate mystery. (Jan.)