Across America With Rebecca Forsythe--PoemAlley's Guest Speaker For October 25, 2011

Animating observations amassed from 49 states' worth of motorcycling with her husband, Rebecca Forsythe also peppers her poetry and musical contributions with musings on biblical and historical themes, not to mention an abundance of figures drawn from her own family.

Of her recent collection, from which she will be reading, Prairie Morning (2010, Turn of River Press), PA member Karen Waigland Davis notes how the writing resonates with the intensity by which "Forsythe observes and lives her life." Adds Barbara Holton, "Rebecca's poetry has a clarity and a grace that's sometimes missing in the poetry written in these post-modern days... Her throwaway lines can take my breath away."

Listen here to samplings of her daughter, Amanda, performing as soprano on New Dawn, an album of song and piano music by contemporary classical composer Carson Cooman, which features poetry by Rebecca.