Catherine Strayhall's debut is one of generations of joys and losses, of memories firmly rooted by place. Strayhall has a dexterous range of forms that she uses to explore the legacy of World Wars, the changing landscape and climate, and to count all the ways we are alive. She is unafraid to face the world's cruelties but always returns to art as a balm in the face of tragedies. With the same kind of courage the title Dress Me Like a Prizefighter implies, the poems "crush lightning and love on my lips" and beautifully balance the darkness with the tenderest connections, the poems about the light we have, reminding us to have courage as the sun goes down.
-Traci Brimhall, Poet Laureate of Kansas, 2023-2026 ? 2027 ?
These poems sing with the voice of an old soul-"I dream of someone who reached through the years to always bring me back"-a voice rhyming Europe with Kansas City, sisterhood with fireweed, grandparents with poems that are only just now writing themselves. Generous and alive, these poems are waiting for you.
-Elizabeth Dodd, author of Horizon's Lens
Overflowing with joy, Dress Me Like a Prizefighter carries the reader through contemplations of family history, generational legacy, and the natural world. It is an intimate love letter to both life in the Midwest and to poetry itself, skillfully interweaving these ruminations with a bold and compassionate command of language and form. Each poem leaves the reader with hope and wonder, even in the bleakest of moments-a reminder that there's beauty in both the vast and small experiences in life.
-Heather Etelamaki, writer and academic librarian
Dress Me Like A Prizefighter is a wonderful book of poetry. The imagery and vivid language throughout made each poem flow and prompted many emotions. Catherine Strayhall is an extremely talented writer. Her references to family and nature were especially delightful to read. This book is perfect for those of us who need to feel hopeful through difficult times. This debut does not disappoint.
-Kristy Nerstheimer, award-winning author of The Greatest Thing: A Story About Buck O'Neil