The Mausoleum on the Levee

By Don A. Hoyt

Hoyt's first full volume of poetry (55 poems) exhibits a broad range of styles-- from sonnets to concrete lyrics. Somewhat romantic, somewhat modernist, somewhat language based, Hoyt's poems are largely unclassifiable; yet every one is ripe with insights into the human condition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Don A. Hoyt
• Release date: Jan 26, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311208088

Don A. Hoyt

Don A. Hoyt grew up in New Orleans in a single parent home, residing mostly in public housing projects. He dropped out of high school to serve 4 years in the US Navy and later went on to earn a B.A. in English (1973) and two Master's degrees: Education (1977) and Public Adminisrtration (2004).Hoyt's career in education (Wossman HS, Grambling State University, Louisiana Delta Community College, and Downsville Charter School Board) spanned 17 years. His career in Public Administration (local agency Assistant Director, city Planning and Development Director, County Administrator, and City Manager) spanned 24 years. While working at GSU, he managed a consulting business, Hired Hand Outsourcing, which served municipal clients across Louisiana to adopt Comprehensive Plans and development ordinances. Hoyt officially retired in 2013 from his position as the City Manager (Chief Administrative Officer) of the City of Anniston, Alabama, population 25,000; however, since 2016 he has taught one or two Composition classes at LDCC.Over the years Hoyt has published numerous poems, short stories, and literary essays across the country. The following 40 academic presses have published Hoyt's works of fiction, poetry, and/or literary commentary.Providence College, Providence, RINorthern Illinois University, Chicago, ILCalifornia State University Northridge, Northridge, ILUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, ALRoger Williams College, Bristol, RIEastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KYAngelo State University, San Angelo, TXUniversity of Mississippi (Ole Miss), University, MSDeKalb College, Clarkston, GAUniversity of Iowa, Iowa City, IOUniversity of Central Florida, Orlando, FLUniversity of Houston, Houston, TXSalem State College, Salem, MALenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, NCPiedmont College, Demorest, GANortheast Louisiana University, Monroe, LABerea College, Richmond, KYKansas State University, Manhattan, KSIdaho State University, Pocatello, IDNichols State University, Thibodaux, LALouisiana State University at Eunice, Eunice, LACalifornia State University at Long BeachWright State University, Dayton, OHUniversity of North Dakota, Grand Forks, NDCalifornia State University, San BernardinoUniversity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PACollege of the Mainland, Texas City, TXStephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TXSan Jose State University, San Jose, CARoanoke College, Salem, VASierra Nevada College, Incline Village, NVPikeville College, Pikeville, KYCleveland State University, Cleveland, OHUniversity of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, Oshkosh, WIUniversity of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WISchoolcraft College, Livonia, MIGrambling State University, Grambling, LAKent University, Canterbury, Kent, UKFranklin College, Lugano, Switzerland

Book preview

In the Ruins

Artisans of touching crafts

finger me like grasping beggars

as I stealth among the world's ruins

feeling stone wear under me.

My breath corrodes the arcs and pillars.

I eat the frescoes of ancient masters.

My glaring vision burns the beauty out

like boiling nutrients from rice.

I tour the hollow graves

where prior ages' treasures

yield to modern pressures

like fancy under reason's knife.

Come picnic on the lumpy slabs.

Contents

Night Fog

Miles away I see it.

First

the faint

glowing

white

whirlwind

of fog

changes into a blurred moon

treetop resting.

A dark center column slims

to a spear thrust into the heartland;

my chest heaves as the car does,

riding the slight hills.

The silver ball clarifies itself

like evolving natural wonders

becoming square;

spotlights egress from shrubs

at the