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William F. DeVault has pretty much done it all, from being crowned the Romantic Poet of the Internet by Yahoo to serving at the U.S. National Beat Poet Laureate, all the while publishing a series of acclaimed books including his mammoth and mighty Selected Poems and Passions: 1972-2011 and founding Venetian Spider Press. But as well-deserved as all of the accolades he has received are, his latest book, Quintessence, could be his best work yet.
Leading the reader on a sensory (and sensual) journey of discovery, from “the pain of life, accumulated scar tissues” to “cotton candy kisses,” “Apollonian indulgences” and more, DeVault’s Quintessence feels deeply and by turns stimulates, educates, and scintillates. Poets, lovers and poetry lovers, if it is unfailing ardor you seek, look no further. When “spark spark spark spark / the tinder catches,” be there and burn with Quintessence.
—John Burroughs, Ohio Beat Poet laureate and author of Rattle & Numb: Selected and New Poems, 1992-2019.
