Cummiskey Alley: New and Selected Lowell Poems

Cummiskey Alley is a collection of Tom Sextons poems about Lowell, Massachusetts, his working-class, ethnic-American hometown. Sexton is known as a premier poet of the natural world, but he is also a deep investigator and lyrical beat reporter. The poems are universal, but Lowell needs a literature to call its own. Sexton's characters, relationships, and places spring from the page, brought to life by a tiny gesture or minute detail.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 143 pages
Publication date: 17 June 2021
Publisher: Loom Press

Cummiskey Alley is a collection of Tom Sexton's poems that explore his birthplace and childhood, the mill-lined river city of Lowell, Massachusetts. Despite his extensive travels and experiences in Alaska, Sexton never lost sight of his hometown. Throughout his life, he has been a writer, teacher, editor, and avid observer of the world's wonders. His poetry reflects his observations and emotions, filling numerous books with vivid descriptions of his experiences. While Sexton is renowned as a poet of the natural world, particularly birds and mountains, there is another side to his writing. He is a deep investigator and lyrical beat reporter who delves into his working-class, ethnic-American hometown, returning regularly to gather facts and report on events. The poems in Cummiskey Alley draw from memory and recent inspection, representing the experiences of thousands of small industrial cities built by immigrants and often faced with economic challenges. These cities, though unique, share a common struggle and resilience. Despite their universal themes, places like Lowell require their own literature to truly capture their essence. The New York Times praised Sexton for his ability to look deeply and write simply, while Merrimack Valley Magazine described his poetry as unveiling new and breathtaking aspects of one of the region's most diverse and interesting places. Sexton's characters, relationships, and places come to life through his vivid descriptions and precise details, creating a rich and immersive literary experience.

Dimension: 215 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781735168913