Brooks Hoffman's poems are direct, earthy and unpretentious. If you like unfinished wood, you'll like his poems. If you like the smell of butter or summer, you'll like his poems. What at first might appear to be linguistic awkwardness in his voicing actually becomes upon closer examination an entrance into secret regions of cultural dissonance and transformation, personal doubt and resolution, and above all-love. Buy this book today. Jack Anders

Brooks has a kitchen drawer full of Wal-Mart stainless, but made up of different designs from conflicting manufacturers, so that, yes, his poesy...