Second Nature

Composed of staggered tercets, the poems in Second Naturetrack the chaotic rush and swerve of life as we live it. Wide open to the world, Witte writes with uncommon energy and urgency and his vision is exhilarating. John Witte's poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Paris Review, American Poetry Review, and numerous anthologies. The recipient of two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, he lives in Eugene, Oregon, where he teaches at the University of Oregon. "Using skilled and expert verse to explain his views of the world, human nature, and history, his message is optimistic and uplifting, as well as poignant and powerful." -Midwest Book Review "[A] resonant collection of poems from a life closely observed." -Seattle Post-Intelligencer