Slight Return

In her new collection, renowned publisher and poet Rebecca Wolff voyages in the myopia of American consumer consciousness-erotic regard, spiritual FOMO, gentrification, branding-without destination.

Labyrinthine in their paradoxical musings and incisive in their witty recriminations, these poems grapple with the hubris and dysmorphia of the soul. Wolff is a poet that is unafraid to be a querent, not only of sages ("I only hang out with people / who are psychic / anything else is a / waste of precious / continuity") but of language itself ("How else is one to know how to proceed / How is one to make a motion against- / electric word life") InSlight Return, the journey is infinite and elusive-aspiring in the best way toward a point of diminishing returns and withholding any promise of a comfortable landing.

Winner of Barnard Women Poets Prize 2003 (United States) Winner of National Poetry Series 2001 (United States)

“"[Wolff's poems] are stylistic and tonal shapeshifters. Hip, contemplative, and dark and resistant to the hunky-dory, the New Agey, and the prescriptive, they're unnerving, funny, and occasionally subversive." -- Bookforum "Wolff's [poetry has] nervy, controlled lyric bursts....Nearing yet swerving from bathos, [she is a poet with] a gift for shrewd summings-up." --Chicago Tribune "In a space where "It all happens so fast--/ ovulation, creation, cremation," a variety of poses, or figments, may seem all that is left. Wolff's poems manage to make embracing them seem like a genuine possibility." --Publishers Weekly”

"[Wolff’s poems] are stylistic and tonal shapeshifters. Hip, contemplative, and dark and resistant to the hunky-dory, the New Agey, and the prescriptive, they’re unnerving, funny, and occasionally subversive."— Bookforum

"Wolff's [poetry has] nervy, controlled lyric bursts....Nearing yet swerving from bathos, [she is a poet with] a gift for shrewd summings-up."—Chicago Tribune

"In a space where "It all happens so fast—/ ovulation, creation, cremation," a variety of poses, or figments, may seem all that is left. Wolff's poems manage to make embracing them seem like a genuine possibility."—Publishers Weekly

Rebecca Wolffwas publishedby Wave Books in 2015.Slight Return; in 2001 she founded Fence Books and launched The Constant Critic website. Wolff lives in Hudson, New York, where she has served on the City Council and works in community development, with an emphasis on affordable housing and green trades training.

In her new collection, renowned publisher and poet Rebecca Wolff voyages in the myopia of American consumer consciousness--erotic regard, spiritual FOMO, gentrification, branding--without destination. Labyrinthine in their paradoxical musings and incisive in their witty recriminations, these poems grapple with the hubris and dysmorphia of the soul. Wolff is a poet that is unafraid to be a querent, not only of sages ("I only hang out with people / who are psychic / anything else is a / waste of precious / continuity") but of language itself ("How else is one to know how to proceed / How is one to make a motion against-- / electric word life") In Slight Return, the journey is infinite and elusive--aspiring in the best way toward a point of diminishing returns and withholding any promise of a comfortable landing.

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