Free Verse
Marsh River Editions

Catch and Release
Chasing Saturday Night
in search of "Green Dolphin Street"
Lines on Lake Winnebago
Loose Change
Mead
Saying Grace
Slightly Off Q
Something Near the Dance Floor
Waiting For Beethoven
Walnut from Waterloo

"A Vacant Lot in Guatemala"

a harmony of rats and roses
fills the vacant lot next door
with music separated from the world
by walls of brown adobe

the music rises
as the roses shuffle
in the wind of the volcano
their thorns outstretched
to claw and scratch the walls

the music rises
as the rats sway
crooning in the ocean breeze
a honeyed melody
against a sky of blue and white

and each red petal falls
onto the yellow teeth of the marimba
producing notes though sweet
become the elemental horror of the song

because all roses smell of rats
and rats of roses

(Quetzaltenango, Guatemala 1998)

Bruce Dethlefsen can make a stunning poem of just about anything he aims his pen at. These are beautiful, uncluttered poems, deeply saturated with innocence and worldliness. These are satisfying poems filled with an easy, languid grace. You'll find quiet and complex love poems here, skillfully imbued with emotion and sensibility, well-juiced with wit and humor. Bruce is an excellent writer and knows how to shift the power to the subjects of his poems. He has set a high standard of craftsmanship with this collection. Make sure you have a chair at his table near the dance floor.

-Ellen Kort
Wisconsin State Poet Laureate
and author of twelve books

I have had such a crush on Bruce Dethlefsen's work since well before A Decent Reed. He is a wizard at word play, all "rhythm and listen," all "teewang," yet not without the depth of a good Greek myth&emdash;a rare mix of beauty and tragedy, rats and roses. Now I'm ecstatic that Bruce is evolving our tryst with this new book, Something Near the Dance Floor. He whispers in our ear with sensual love poems like "Fingernail Moon" and "Evening Wear," serenades us with the likes of "Shebang" and "I'll Take the Moon." So many of these poems so closely resemble lyrics, so want an ensemble of instruments, so want to be taken out dancing&emdash;these poems will take you out dancing! Come join us . . . Near the Dance Floor (but remember, all the slow songs are saved for me!).

- Cathryn Cofell