When poet Bruce Guernsey takes to the podium tonight at Long Hill, the Trustees of Reservations headquarters in Beverly, he will be reading from a book that was published locally by Ecco Qua Press.
Founded in 2011 by Wendy Murray, a journalist and author who previously taught at Gordon College, Ecco Qua published Guernsey’s book, “From Rain: Poems, 1970 - 2010,” in May of this year.
Although Murray founded the press with the idea of publishing mostly younger writers trying to get their start, Guernsey is hardly a beginner.
“This is his corpus, his life’s work,” Murray said.
The author of four previous books and seven chapbooks, Guernsey’s work has been published in The Atlantic Monthly, Poetry Magazine, and a number of literary journals.
Born in Boston, he taught for many years at Eastern Illinois University, and was recommended to Murray by another author whose work she was considering.
“I really liked the samples he sent me,” Murray said.
She also described the book, which is currently available through Amazon, and Barnes and Noble’s website, as “a slam dunk” to work on.
“Poetry doesn’t need any editing, especially a poet of his caliber,” Murray said. “I’m really glad it’s been embraced by the poetry community.”
Guernsey discusses his work, and the new book, in an interview posted at his website, www.bruceguernsey.com.
“I am indeed a nature poet,” he said, “seeking to put sounds and their symbols into a pattern whether that be the sonnet or a form that somehow came to be in the writing of the poem.”
Guernsey is reading in the parlor tonight at the Sedgwick Estate at Long Hill, at 572 Essex St., at 7 p.m. The event will include “drink and selzers and excellent organic culinary specialties,” and costs $15, $10 for Trustees members, payable at the door.
