Conversations with the Horizon

Poetry. When E. J. Evans dives into the depths of his existence in CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HORIZON, he takes the reader with him for a surprising and wild ride. He plunges, and you are submerged. These short, dense, meditative, memoir prose poems don’t have titles or punctuation. The reader cannot predict which way the writer’s mind will turn and where it will take you next, but that is a large part of the pleasure of reading this book. With statements such as, Most of my life has consisted of longing, E. J. Evans thrills with his raw honesty and impressive wisdom and humility. He describes growing up in California, working for the navy in Florida, discovering art in upstate New York, surviving winters there, being childless, finding a mature love that makes him feel his fierce core, and taking a job washing dishes at age 60. When he admits that his failures have led him to lead a richer life, you believe him, understand that is also his success, and wish that other people were brave enough to look at how their lives have unfolded with such clarity, modesty, and dignity. This book feels like a hike in the Himalayas or a trek across the Arctic or the ocean where you learn something new about yourself during the journey and as a result you feel exhilarated. This book is a singular, startling achievement.