West Virginia newspaper The Journal recently published a stunning review of Stephen Dobyns's new book, The Day's Last Light Reddens the Leaves of the Copper Beech. Reviewer Sonja James has nothing but praise for the collection, saying: "All of the poems are unflinchingly beautiful as Dobyns explores the transience of life on earth. These are poems for those who respect honesty. Dobyns is a poet who is true to the script God offers a fallen humanity."

The review details the collection's reoccurring themes of mortality and death, especially in Part Two, "Sixteen Sonnets for Isabel." Here, Dobyns writes about the recent passing of his wife, in what James calls "the most moving portion of the volume."

James also makes note of the opening poem, "Stories," calling it an "exquisite poem that explores the fleeting nature of human existence with words that are simply breathtaking in their beauty."

The review concludes: "As a whole, Stephen Dobyns's The Day's Last Light Reddens the Leaves of the Copper Beech is poetry by a man daring to look death squarely in the eye. He is a poet of great courage as he broods on life and death. His relentless imagination erodes the power of death's presence and makes of it a lesser reality. Reading Dobyns, one is not alone with the inevitable outcome of our birth. The beauty of his language knocks death from its pedestal."

Click here to read the full review.

The Day's Last Light Reddens the Leaves of the Copper Beech is available now at the BOA Bookstore.