Earth Tones by Gary W. Burns

In Earth Tones: A Journey, poet Gary W. Burns compels readers to lean in, slow down, and savor every thoughtful, delicate verse. Frequently blending the beauty of nature with a longing for connection, tinged with nostalgia, grief, and joy, these poems are powerful and short, some landing hard with the simplicity of a mantra or a haiku, yet also reminiscent of Mary Oliver’s wisdom in certain moments. Some of the ideas and images are recognizable, yes, but the use of such common figurative language aside, this is a meditative collection that bares Burns’ soul in a deeply compelling way.