The Voice of Consciousness: Poems Composed After Ninety

Poetry. A deep sense of humanity is at the core of Jack Rothman's poetry. His poems are easy to read, yet surprise you with their intensity as you find yourself looking at the world through his eyes. And what a complex world it is. I wake immersed in consciousness, he says, and shows you page after page what that means.

From the vantage point of ninety-plus years, memory, family, and life in America are examined and shared through language that is direct and laced with humor. The blending of honesty and warmth in Jack's voice makes you feel you are his friend. He has a natural inclination to probe below the surface, cares fervently for matters of peace and equality, and holds close the people he loves. In one of my favorite passages, he states, 'My wife and I together / Mount the steps / of time.' I appreciate that his poems are simultaneously thought provoking and tender.--Deborah Clayton