This selection of poems from 2010 and 2011 explores the following notions: what constitutes meaning, what cajoles the human being into realms of greater joy, and what absurdities constitute our personal cobbled reality. The poems move in the direction of describing how human beings illustrate, embellish, create, and hide from the rich realities that make up our earthly and spiritual existence.

This historical look at the beginnings of a distinguished poet, Collected Early Poems shows Mr. Levine's growth from roots in traditional lyric poetry as it mixes with timely excursions into absurdist, sardonic, social, psychological insights heralded by consciousness-expanding elements that emerged into the culture in the early sixties. This collection sets the foundation for his next book, Flying Game, a collection of poems from 1985 to 2007 that includes poems written during international travel.