Abuzz

In Abuzz, Robert E. Ray shapes a daring poetic sequence with poems built around a letter of the alphabet, each carrying the weight of memory, myth, and cultural inheritance. Written in carefully measured nine-line stanzas, the collection blends musical precision with a restless curiosity, weaving the voices of poets, prophets, philosophers, and everyday Americans. From cornfields and cafes to battlefields and sanctuaries, Ray's landscapes reveal both the beauty and burden of belonging, reminding us that collective memory is made of personal stories. With its mix of slant rhyme, alliteration, and vivid imagery, Abuzz pays homage to tradition while speaking in a distinctly modern voice-at turns reverent, ironic, playful, and elegiac. These poems are deeply rooted in American soil but resonate far beyond it, alive with rhythms of history, humor, and faith. For readers who cherish poetry that is both formally inventive and emotionally resonant, Abuzz offers a journey that is unforgettable, intimate, and true.