"Michael Davis' poetry collection Prodigal is a deeply moving odyssey of mourning, searching, struggle and passion. Through his vivid imagery ("like a razor, against the grain, scattering the salty/scales into the bright air"), fresh use of language and wisdom, Davis tells stories of the human condition in ways that haven't been told before. From his unique take on Rembrandt's "Annunciation" to "Cleaning the Catch," a gut-wrenching tale of "Life lost, both wanted and wanting"--he takes us on a luminous journey into the very guts of life itself."
--Kathi Wolfe, author, The Uppity Blind Girl Poems
Review :
"Michael Davis' poetry collection Prodigal is a deeply moving odyssey of mourning, searching, struggle and passion. Through his vivid imagery ("like a razor, against the grain, scattering the salty/scales into the bright air"), fresh use of language and wisdom, Davis tells stories of the human condition in ways that haven't been told before. From his unique take on Rembrandt's "Annunciation" to "Cleaning the Catch," a gut-wrenching tale of 'Life lost, both wanted and wanting'--he takes us on a luminous journey into the very guts of life itself." --Kathi Wolfe, author, The Uppity Blind Girl Poems
"Michael Davis has a rare voice that deepens every line. His 'father poems' are fierce with skill, tears, and truth. Every poem is a revelation forcing us awake, capturing us with words that won't stay on the page. We've waited too long for this talent revealed, with its sweep of ideas mastered by such coherence and craft. Prodigal covers all the bases, from family losses to sources of happiness. Although Davis switches tones, the voice is always distinct, connected to a special poetry chemistry. This poet's lifelong pursuit of classical music, lucky for us, now brings his personal language as music to our hearts." --Grace Cavalieri, Maryland Poet Laureate
"I have long admired Michael Davis's poems, the ease of an apparent facility of diction morphing into depths of cultural knowledge, unexpected images, sudden humor and a controlled, quiet awareness of the pathos of the human condition. Ordinary words become doors to a new way to see, reveal the reality behind our illusory myths." --Laura Brylawski-Miller, author, The Snow on Lake Como
