The second book of a quartet takes the elements - earth, air, water, fire - as its subject. It considers 'air' - the many meanings of the word and the life-giving medium we breathe - to test a reality that is both political and personal. There are poems set in libraries that muse on reading and writing, on neglected texts, and dust motes.

Innovative lyric poetry breathes new life into 21st century nature and culture. In her newest poems, Brenda Hillman continues her exploration of nature and culture in ways that demonstrate her original place in experimental lyric traditions. "Pieces of Air in the Epic" is the second book of a quartet that takes the elements - earth, air, water, fire - as its subject. As Hillman's previous collection, "Cascadia", explores "earth," the present collection considers "air" - the many meanings of the word and the life-giving medium we breathe - to test a reality that is both political and personal. There are hypnotic, spare verses presided over by a feminine presence using air on the page as a matrix for cultural healing, and poems set in libraries that muse on reading and writing, on neglected texts, auras, lively dust motes, and restorative memory. Fusing animist consciousness with cautionary prophecy, Hillman's work continues to explore ways in which human life might be redeemed by imagination.