Consider the Rooster

The innovative and ecologically minded third collection from Bendorf (Advantages of Being Evergreen) finds solace in the connections between the human and nonhuman world, centering and celebrating transformation. Many poems assume perspectives beyond the human, as in “What Is a Field?” which asks, “is it a network for stars to enjoy” or “is it a complete cloud system/ full of muscle.” In a poem relaying the story of a neutron star unseen by astronomers for 32 years before its bright reappearance as a supernova, Bendorf reflects on the idea of gender as a journey rather than a destination, “I stood there squinting/ into the heavens thinking if ‘star’ can also be ‘dust cloud’ or ‘nebula’/ or ‘black hole’ then surely gender is far stranger than we’ve imagined/ and much more beautiful, unfurling over decades, a phenomenon.” Other poems highlight the power of Bendorf’s observational writing: “I like to look at what you look at./ Maybe I am looking for a future.” Hopeful and surprising, this inviting volume soars. (Sept.)