Navigating the Waters by Sandy Longley

Sandy Longley artfully navigates the unending contradictions of sentient life: love, desire, promise—and the undertows of longing, surrender, loss.  She’s equally masterful in her elegant explorations of the natural world. Throughout this impressive collection she leads us from revelation to revelation, and always with humor, daring and grace.

–Richard Gotti, PhD, MFA

Professor, SUNY Empire State College

Every time I read a poem by Sandy Longley, I feel an urgency to share it. In an age of twitter tweets and speed dates, Longley takes a much-needed poetic pause and unflinchingly reflects our deeper selves and world back to us. In Navigating the Waters she reminds us of imagination’s power to carry love, loneliness, curiosity and concern to unexpected, unforgettable places. What a gift to see ourselves as Sandy Longley sees us.  Her wild imagination and brilliant clarity remind me how poetry can save us.

-Mary Judd is a frequent contributor to international publications, and award-winning program developer, and the Executive Director of SongwritingWith:Soldiers.