Almanac

Abstract

"Almanac is a collection of poetry that speaks to the various influences that have affected the poet as an Alaskan woman inhabiting the roles of daughter, mother, wife, professional, and daydreamer. The collection includes a shifting I, which inhabits a variety of characters, from the poet herself, to a crazed Cleveland murderer. Based on subject matter, the 56 poems of Almanac are split into five sections, covering the seasons to current events. The word, almanac, can be traced to the medieval Arabic word for climate. As such, the lyrical free verse poems in this collection illustrate the climate of Hartley's life over a six-year period, weaving together personal experience, philosophical ruminations, science, as well as current events in Alaska and elsewhere. Poetic influences on the work include Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Bishop, Frank Bidart, Billy Collins, and others"--Leaf iii