Almanac of Reckoning by Sandra Salinas Newton

These poems allow us to see connections we miss, let us in and under the surface of our lives. They use the natural world accurately and poetically to show the parallels of nature with the human experience.  In “Our Place” we see what feeds underground – the ants, worms, slugs – and are told in the last line, ”For we are simply fodder for the universe.”  “At a Party of Mourning Doves in Austin, Texas” the description of the birds “like nervous girls” who can’t stand still and mutter soft melodies to each other while they feed is a visual treat.  The birds are prey for murdering cats and also a warning.  By the end of the book you have entered the poet’s life. You have seen her in Luxembourg Gardens in Paris as a young student, learned how her father sat every morning watching the sunrise, and shared her sorrow at the death of her son and husband.  The book is a visual and emotional sum.  The words needs to be read and enjoyed.

–Linda Batt, writer and teacher

Sandra Salinas Newton‘s Almanac of Reckoning explores nature’s ability to mirror the essence of human existence. The destructive power of ice and storm, the rejuvenating properties of the seasons, the behavior of birds, all reflect her grief, her passion and her resilience. This sensual collection allows us passage into a magical world where loss and rebirth are as one.

–Jeanne Evans-Boniecki, poet and college professor