Only As the Day Is Long: New and Selected Poems

Only As the Day Is Long collects both new poems and selections from Dorianne Laux's previous five books, spanning over three decades of work. The collection begins with recent poems and moves backward chronologically through her career. Laux writes of everyday moments and memories: family dynamics, working-class experiences, relationships, and observations of the natural world. Her style combines narrative elements with lyrical precision, grounding abstract concepts in concrete details and sensory experiences. The poems explore themes of survival, desire, and the ways humans navigate both joy and loss. Laux's work examines how people carry their histories while moving forward, finding meaning in both significant events and small daily rituals.

Readers appreciate Laux's raw honesty about difficult experiences, with many noting the impact of poems about her mother's death and childhood trauma. The poems' accessibility and straightforward language connect with both poetry enthusiasts and casual readers. Multiple reviews highlight the poem "Facts About the Moon" as memorable, with one reader calling it "a perfect blend of science and emotion." Readers also note the strength of Laux's observational poems about everyday life and work. Some readers find the selected works from previous collections stronger than the new poems. A few mention that certain pieces feel repetitive in theme. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (269 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (38 ratings) "These poems punch you in the gut while showing you the stars," writes one Goodreads reviewer. Another notes: "Laux doesn't hide behind flowery language or metaphors - she tells it straight and that's what makes her work powerful."

What We Carry by Demetria Martinez Poems examining family history, motherhood, and personal identity through a Latina lens reflect themes of inheritance and memory similar to Laux's explorations.

The Wild Iris by Louise Glück These poems weave together nature, mortality, and human relationships in ways that echo Laux's unflinching examination of life's complexities.

Fall Higher by Dean Young The collection transforms everyday experiences into profound meditations on existence, mirroring Laux's ability to find depth in ordinary moments.

The Kingdom of Ordinary Time by Marie Howe The poems chronicle domestic life and personal loss with the same direct, narrative style that characterizes Laux's work.

Red Bird by Mary Oliver These poems connect human experience to natural world observations through clear imagery and accessible language that align with Laux's poetic approach.

🌟 Dorianne Laux worked as a gas station manager, waitress, and sanatorium cook before publishing her first collection of poetry at age 38. 📚 The collection spans 30 years of Laux's work, including both new poems and carefully selected pieces from her previous five books. 🎓 Despite not completing college until age 36, Laux went on to become a highly respected professor of poetry, teaching at the University of Oregon and North Carolina State University. 💫 Many poems in the collection explore grief and mortality, inspired by the death of Laux's mother—a theme that deepens throughout her later works. 🏆 Laux's poetry has earned numerous prestigious honors, including fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.