On Razor-Thin Tires by Charles Halsted

Now in his early 80’s, retired physician Charles Halsted has lived a full life, and thanks to this vivid and eclectic collection, On Razor-Thin Tires, readers can experience it, too. In poems filled with Victrolas and Superman comics, Elvis and Jabberwock, we journey back through the 40s, 50s and tumultuous 60s, then up to the present time. Writing in free and formal verse, he takes us through the challenges of college, medical school and on to Europe, where we view art in a series of ekphrastic poems. Throughout, we glean wisdom as Halsted reflects on aging with wit, curiosity and compassion. Here is a collection to savor and share.

–Holly J. Hughes, author of Hold Fast (Empty Bowl Press, 2020)

From a New England childhood to fly-fishing in The West to the Kennedy assassination, from a New Orleans strip club to a full career in medicine to the tenderness of grandparenthood, from a medical research unit in Cairo to birdsong in a Northern California backyard to our current political turmoil, poet Charles Halsted takes us on a journey that is as rich as it is viscerally stirring. On Razor-Thin Tires challenges contemporary America to take an honest look at its history, including its horrors and fissures. Its formal variety keeps us on our toes while its precision of language and cast of characters lend authenticity. This is a collection to read and to remember, informed by a truly intelligent heart.

–Caroline Goodwin, author of The Paper Tree (Big Yes Press, 2017) and Custody of the Eyes (dancing girl press, 2019).