Quiver

More about the book

Sharon Carter's poems exhibit a remarkable sensibility, exploring the intimate aspects of the body—personal, cultural, and historical—with surgical precision. As a physician, she is attuned to the body's nuances: illness and death emerge like birdsong; women in labor; fissures on a frozen lake mirror the stark realities of life. Her meditations are layered, droll, and perceptive, celebrating both the wonders and the devastation of the earth. She affirms the resilience of women, who deliver babies, craft poems, and revive the past. Her work elicits admiration, as she writes, "May light from the farthest galaxy/arrive before too long." Carter's poems also honor the vulnerability of our bodies and minds. Whether depicting a young boy's infected finger, contemplating blame amid winter nights, reflecting on loss in pregnancy, or capturing the rhythm of footsteps, her insights are both astute and honest. This collection showcases a skilled poet who engages with life authentically, evoking universal human experiences that resonate deeply. Through her work, Carter invites readers to confront the fragility of existence while celebrating its profound beauty.