The Last Milkweed

Autumn is the inspiration behind this anthology, but not necessarily the destination. The destination is the discovery of the human condition, the discovery of the ways in which we respond to the natural world.

In this extraordinary anthology, forty-seven contemporary poets and one photographer respond to the myriad ways in which what we think and feel about the “autumnal” resonates through our lives and senses: spiritually, physically, and philosophically. Contributing poets were asked “to let their language rub up against any part or parts of the autumnal world that calls to them, whether from the outside in or the inside out.” In other words, these autumn poems and photographs need not so much as mention fallen leaves, milkweed, or even “autumn.” Autumn is the inspiration, but not necessarily the destination. The destination is as ever, the discovery of the human condition, the discovery of the ways in which we respond to the natural world.

The poems included in this anthology have all been written fresh in response to the autumnal prompt, with new work from luminaries such as Elise Paschen, Martha Ronk, G.C. Waldrep, Michael Chitwood, Gillian Cummings, Gibson Fay-LeBlanc, Rick Hilles, Eva Hooker, Luisa A. Igloria, and William Orem.

The photographs are by Jeffrey Levine, who, in addition to being executive director of Tupelo Press, is widely recognized for his work behind the camera. These images boast exceptional composition and color, but beyond technique, each photo offers up a penetrating resonance on the theme of autumn and the autumnal.