ADVANCE PRAISE: When Eric Morago took the reins of Moon Tide Press, he decided that—besides publishing individual books of creative work—he would also try to focus on poets from Southern California, seeing that as territory ripe with literary ore. The result is this volume, which I am pleased to be able to have made my own contribution. I am also proud to share space on the same pages with established Los Angeles poetry luminaries such as Alexis Rhone Fancher and Armine Iknadossian. But this volume also introduces the reader to 15 other writers, many from the L.A. area but also a number from surrounding towns and counties. There is a goodly share of poetic prose pieces although, unlike most of Lincoln McElwee's material, his "Crash Landing" becomes a poetic sic-fi story as is "Origin of Species" from Mike Gravagno. Meanwhile, a conspiracy of cockroaches brews in Boris Ingles's "The Last Drunken Tribe." Another appealing aspect of poetry from diving into this book is the success in wordplay that poets try to achieve. LeAnne Hunt reaches this summit beautifully in "Good God" wherein both the language (starting with the title) and the structure of the poem invites amused revisits. Ingles also achieves this in his work, especial- ly in "A Marriage of Eggs Beans & Rice." Still, it is the human condition that shines through most of the work here: the dilemmas we face when Michael Cantin learns that his father "was not a BAD man" or the problems that Charles Harper Webb confronts us with when "We Know What We're Supposed To Say." The "conversational" tone in the observations of life from Zachary Locklin and Victoria Lynne McCoy when recounting events from personal memory connect the individual to the universal. In Ron Koertge's "Whispering Pines," the reader is immersed in the crude beauty of humanity and art. Perhaps that universality constitutes the real takeaway of this collection, for while the writers may be "geocentric," the material is anything but. — Bill Cushing ~ widely anthologised poet I love poetry anthologies, and Eric Morago does not disappoint with Lullaby of Teeth. Not only do the words hit home, but they dance on the page, becoming part of the experience in a way rarely seen. I enjoyed the grouping of each contributing poet's work, and it gave me a real feel for their world, their lives—and how their experiences closely mirror many of my own. I highly recommend it. I have read it through, twice, in the week I have had it, and am certain to revisit it many more times. — David Russo ~ author Tokin Of My Esteem ABOUT THE EDITOR: Eric Morago is a Pushcart Prize nominated poet who believes performance carries as much importance on the page as it does off. He is the author of What We Ache For and Feasting on Sky. Currently Eric hosts a monthly reading series, teaches writing workshops, and is editor-in-chief and publisher of Moon Tide Press. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from California State University, Long Beach, and lives in Los Angeles, CA. FROM THE ANTHOLOGY:
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