The Next Sky

"Bitsui delivers a dense and intensely lyrical fourth collection interweaving the elemental body and myth. In the title sequence, Bitsui's lines articulate the 'meat-fragrant slits/ in our speech patterns, ' invoking the Coyote trickster god of Navajo mythology along with the terrestrial animal, 'eyeholes punctured/ with coyote teeth.' The volume is uniquely arranged: the primordial, expressionistic long title poem is followed by four shorter, more narrative lyrics. . . . Bitsui balances eschatological vision with moments of intimacy and memorable music, as when a mother ('Amá') is described bathing 'her naked son . . . his glistening/ brown back; oil-black/ slick hair pressed flat.' . . . The book shimmers with imagistic intensity. It's an enduring achievement."--Publishers Weekly