“Geometrid” is the poem in Maryfrances Wagner's new book The Silence of Red Glass that speaks to the sacredness and intransigence of nature, the detritus and beauty of memories, the last leg of life's journey that “reddens the awning and hidden steps,” and the impetus to take risks before it's too late, all themes she explores in this latest collection. The moth in this poem “hurls himself into air” while the sky waits for us to do the same, “to ignore the silence of red glass.” The book begins with memories of an Italian-American experience and introduces us to a precocious speaker who both dares and dares not take the risks the aging one knows is necessary even if that last step is a risk like she says in “Silent Partner” a “black robe and sickle” or “In the Relative Center of Time,” a “Chagall, everything's in the air.” What Wagner does so masterfully in this collection is to take our eyes off the shiny things and re-center us in a world – our world-- of moments observing nature, vignettes of lingering memories that teach us something more about how to live better, and explorations of objects that help connect our experiences. We have odes to eggs and pinkie fingers, memories of Mr. Spivey the bookstore owner past and Ziegfeld girls on diving boards. She shows us a copperhead snakelet, Marjan the Kabul Zoo lion, and wrens in a lost war with sparrows, all blistered or destroyed by forces stronger than they, but in their deaths or deformities show the transience and overwhelming beauty of life fully lived, the shiny red glass that dazzles with clarity if it speaks. Maryfrances Wagner speaks clearly in this new volume; this is the work of a poet at the top of her game, a book to savor and read again and again.

     ⏤Janet Reed, author of Blue Exhaust

This book delighted me with its breadth of subject and style—

How do you read a book of poetry? I'd say, open it at random and read what you find. In the case of The Silence of Red Glass, you're sure to find something intriguing. There's no doubt of the poetry skills of Maryfrances Wagner, as shown by her extensive list of publications. I've been enjoying her work for decades. This book delighted me with its breadth of subject and style, and certain surprises, like the first poem I came to—“Bromco Grater,” a fond and funny description of a kitchen gadget. “Officer's Wife” sticks in my head. And the series of “Aunt Mary” poems brings to life a character we might all wish we'd been related to. But wait! There's more. Get this book for your poetry shelf and find out for yourself. P. S. The collage illustrations by Maryfrances Wagner are visual poems to meditate on as well.

     ⏤Barbara Loots, author of Windshift

If you don't like the weather, wait a minute!

Maryfrances Wagner is the poetic equivalent of the old saw, if you don't like the weather, wait a minute. When she launches her book with a long and lively section about her Italian-American family you think aha! I get it, but then you see it's not that simple, since in the course of these poems she goes through all sorts of stylistic changes and addresses subjects as diverse as kitchen gadgets, eggs, the not-little finger, and a Chihuahua named Guido. Here's a book that's not in danger of blending into the crowd and-- a rarity these days-- a poet who's willing to take risks. Years ago, a piano teacher/reader who'd mail-ordered my book about the piano sent me an irate note demanding her money back because, she said, “I do not like this book.” That's not going to happen here. Read Ms. Wagner. Pretty much whatever your taste, you'll be glad you did.

     ⏤Lola Haskins, author of Desire Lines