Obits: Reading Behind the Fine Print

By Barbara Larsen

Recent Door County Poet Laureate Barbara Larsen’s seventh book is Obits: Reading behind the fine print, uses her interest in obituaries to move beyond the printed words to capture essential meaning of the subject’s lives. At times light-hearted, at times poignant, but always respectful, Larsen’s poems bring energy, hope, and resonance to lives of the departed.

Her collection runs the gamut of people, including an Civil Rights activist, an actress with stage fright, a gay botanist, an iguana at a children’s museum; a clinical child psychologist with a Tarzan yell; and a variety of others from all walks of life and callings.

Collaborating with the poet were two of the poet’s creative friends and previous collaborators: the whimsical illustrations were drawn by Gretchen Maring and design/layout by Kate Rericha.

The resulting work belies the title, as it is anything but morose. Rather, Obits joyously celebrates the inherent goodness and humanness of lives now passed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barbara Larsen
• Release date: Jan 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311993748

Barbara Larsen

Inspired by the beauty of nature and its constant changes, family memories, people Barbara Larsen observes and humorous incidents in her life also find their way into her work.She served as Door County Poet Laureate from 2011 to 2013 and has published six books of poetry. A recipient of the Jade Ring Poetry Prize, Barbara has taught writing classes at The Clearing and Bjorklunden, Lawrence University Seminar Center and has been active in poetry projects in Door County and other areas of the state of Wisconsin.Her latest book, Obits, is a result of her long time interest in obituaries and creating pictures of the people in them in her mind.

Book preview

Obits

Reading behind the fine print

Barbara Larsen, poet

Gretchen Maring, illustrator

Published by Beach Road Press

Copyright 2012 Barbara Larsen

Other books by Barbara Larsen:

Beach Road Year

Lime Ridge, 1937

Tea Leaves. The History and Delights of Tea Drinking, illustrated by Gretchen Maring

Bjorklunden Sketches,

illustrated by Gretchen Maring

All in Good Season

Finding Tongues in Trees

Electronic edition

Copyright 2014

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by

any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

without permission of the copyright holder.

ISBN: 9781311993748

Book design and layout by Kate Rericha

eBook layout by Steve Larsen

Published by Beach Road Press

Poems