The Difference River knows the sea by leaving, and trees stand naked along its banks for the winter run. Between bark and heart, rings hold the years before woodcutters chose to make a table, a coffin or bed. On the shortest day, she runs her fingers over the cold bark searching for the promise – buds swelling in spite of forest fires, floods, and droughts. Between fire and memory the river.
Susan Landgraf was awarded an Academy of American Poets’ Laureate award in 2020. Two Sylvias Press published The Inspired Poet in 2019. More than 400 poems have appeared in Prairie Schooner, Poet Lore, Margie, Nimrod, Calyx, and others. Other books include What We Bury Changes the Ground and Other Voices. A former journalist, she taught at Highline College for 30 years and at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She served as Poet Laureate of Auburn, Washington, from 2018 to 2020.