A review by dylanperry
Essays After Eighty by Donald Hall

5.0

This little book stole my heart. Essays After Eighty does a lot in its short page count. There are so many nuggets of truth and wisdom, all told with the execution only a nuanced and seasoned poet could bring, a specificity to the language that is delightful. He does not romanticize growing old, breaks it down into harsh detail and yet handles the subject with humor and respect. He leaves no stone unturned: His brief time as the Poet Laureate. Childhood. Life before, during, and after his second wife passed early from leukemia. How is days blend into one another, and his thoughts on death; He tackled all of this while making me snort and laugh. He seemed like a good man, and I wish I had gotten the chance to meet him. As it is, I plan to dig into his selected poetry collection soon and work my way through his back catalog with a smile on my face. 5/5