A wonderful collection of poems from this Maine poet (1925-2007), born in Hanover, NH who lived in Castine, ME when he wasn’t teaching at Syracuse.  A student of Frost and a teacher of Stephen Dunn, his spare poems delve deeply into our mortality and the natural Maine setting in which we spend it.  So many beautiful poems to recount, though “nothing” is a predominant theme and word.  At least on memorable poem from “On Retirement”, Pairs had remained in my mind for years.  Pre-eminent poet of Maine’s coast—waves breaking, granite outcroppings, salt air, fog, etc.  Many new words related to boats.  “How can I shape what I feel?/Beyond naming names,/nothing can help./I learn my limits,/I write what I can.”