The Dark Safekeeping

"Animals, horses, dogs, cats, and visiting wildlife are the gifts that bring Gloria Nixon-John great joy, and so they appear in her poetry. Even rats and skunks are worthy of poetry. As for humans, she focuses on the downtrodden, and those living in slums and hollows---not forgetting those living in our iron cities, our prisons. Nixon-John mourns the deteriorating condition of the planet, she mocks those who have elitism and greed at the center of their lives. The author also pokes fun at herself, especially at her struggles with aging. In terms of style, Nixon-John balances the trend toward narrative with her love for the early imagists"--