Now and Here

＂In this beautifully presented book, poet Naomi Beth Wakan joins photographer Christine Brooks Cote to offer glimpses into their ＂now and here.＂ Wakan wrote tanka-a format of five-line poems originating in Japan-in response to photographs by Cote. Wakan chose this particular format because it starts with an objective description of the image- ＂Early morning / the dew still resting / where it settled＂-and then pivots to the poet’s subjective reaction-＂would we could wake refreshed / to look at things in new ways＂. Cote’s photographs are the perfect inspiration for a poet-＂you’re looking at my life and what I love; you’re seeing bits and pieces of places I have been; and you’re catching glimpses of the best moments of my life.＂ The title, Now and Here, comes from Henry David Thoreau: ＂ . . . all these times and places and occasions are now and here.＂＂--