The lyrical poems of award-winning author Nancy Willard celebrate the magic of life

Nancy Willard, who was the first recipient of a Newbery Medal for a volume of poetry, displays her versatility in these companion collections.

Divided into five sections, Water Walker blends the mundane with the mystical. From sleeping fish to Marco Polo to a tortoise who dispenses unique advice to a bride on her wedding day, these poems integrate fables, nursery rhymes, hymns, and songs.

In 19 Masks for the Naked Poet, the human soul reveals itself, as we remove the disguises that bind (and blind) us to everyday life. Fanciful images of nature—dozing bees, green lions—infuse this collection. Doors become mirrors and husbands float above their marital beds as Willard explores themes of family, love, spirituality, politics, and immortality. Her “poet” experiences everything from the sacred to the profane, from photographing his heart to meeting God in creations that are enchanting and surreal.

This ebook includes illustrations by Regina Shekerjian.

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Nancy Willard grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has written two novels, seven books of stories and essays, and twelve books of poetry, including The Sea at Truro (2012). A winner of the Devins Memorial Award, she has received NEA grants in both fiction and poetry. Her book Water Walker was nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and she won the Newbery Medal for A Visit to William Blake’s Inn. Willard is an emeritus professor at Vassar College.