Publisher's Synopsis
Rises in the East is Ryan Fredric Steinbeck's seventh collection of poems. It's not overly boisterous about the fact that it is his first book with various narratives running through the book, but the fact remains it is. The main themes deal with loss of love, and loss of life. In dealing with the trials of the heart, the characters go through an emotional journey, as we follow them through heartbreak to acceptance. The other main topic is death. A stand alone poem titled "North Side Of Birmingham" deals with the death of the author's estranged grandfather whom he never met. Poems titled "Presence, The Same House, and Such Little Distractions" are from a recent widow's perspective. Edwin's Hymn, a posthumous poem from the spouse himself, offering his recently widowed love some advice. Limited Number and Train of Thought find the widow breaching acceptance, and "The Storm That Never Was" is a coming to terms poem and a view of her life as she looks ahead on her remaining days. The author even looks back at himself as a younger poet in "To The Old Version" and doesn't like what he sees. One poems tells a story from a neighborhood couple reluctantly welcoming some friends, for whom they lack fondness, into the area in "You're New Here, So We Brought Beer." While "May Cause Miracles" is written through the eyes of his sister who was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. This is a deeply emotional collection which, at times can be heart-wrenching, humorous, and introspective. It's quite possibly Steinbeck's best and most mature offering to date.
