"Susan McCaslin's Into the Open is an outstanding achievement comprising over forty years' worth of work. It is nothing short of astonishing in its breadth and depth, its sheer sophistication of form, language and theme. The book brings together poems from McCaslin's thirteen previous collections plus a selection from five early chapbooks and thirty new poems. The development of her artistry is a pleasure to behold, her voice confident, compassionate and clear, and always lit with the energy caught in the last two lines of this incredible book: "Nothing divine charges a fee/Everything is charged with love." If you read only one book of poetry this year, read this one." --Eva Tihanyi, author of The Largeness of Rescue and Flying Underwater: Poems New and Selected " Into The Open , Susan McCaslin's long awaited New and Selected Poems is a marvelous compendium of her singular poetic and spiritual journey spanning four decades of poetry-making and eighteen books. A visionary and mystic, a rarity in today's world, McCaslin blazes a luminous path ranging from the Divine Feminine and Ars Poetica to such pressing imperatives as stewardship of the earth and social justice in a troubled world. I know of few poets who have forayed with such power and grace (not to mention courage) into the blinding mysteries of the human heart.
Her collection radiates wonder, gratitude and loving-kindness--a feast for mind and spirit to be pondered and treasured." --James Clarke, author of seventeen volumes of poetry including The Juried Heart " Into the Open reveals poems charged with grounded aperçus, lightning landed, and vision realized in "kin-ship" along the poet's uncommon daily round. Here's a vibrancy in and beyond the senses, pulsating across decades: an essential, timeless and timely book. Read Susan McCaslin's eloquent articulation of a mystical, creative life and be changed, be charged and inspired." --Penn Kemp, poet and playwright; author of Barbaric Cultural Practice "What do you see? Susan McCaslin sees a daughter, a dog, a tree, a mountain, a sea along with art and artists in her work while also seeing what each is connected to, what each comes from and moves towards. She sees the word and the myth propelling it and the silence behind it. She sees the object and the aura around it, the shimmer and sheen within it. With an exploratory and expansive vision, McCaslin lovingly embraces the things of this world and the spirit that binds them together.
" --J. S. Porter, author of Spirit Book Word: An Inquiry into Literature and Spirituality and Lightness and Soul: Musings on Eight Jewish Writers.