'The poems of Kevin Hart have nurtured international poetry audiences for nearly four decades. Translations of Hart's work have appeared in Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, and Vietnamese, among other languages, and bear witness to the growing interest in Hart's poetry both in the United States and abroad. This volume performs a valuable service by bringing together the best of Hart's work from seven published collections, some of them now out of print, and from his forthcoming book, "Barefoot." It allows us to take the measure of his art: the careful balance Hart achieves between mystery and the real, a balance that is spiritual yet visceral, learned yet passionate; and his ability to meld redemption and hope, "always present, whether in the simple pleasures and small dignities of life or the larger questionings and confrontations of death" ("The Australian"). ' (Publication summary)