“Sevick is haunted by the past. Her poems are intimate, steely in their fierce gaze at the contradictions of this world and herself; and yet she somehow manages to give the people in her poems a depth that makes them unforgettable and very human. The reader trusts this poet’s voice, her balanced vision, her willingness to allow for mystery and the untoward. A powerful book.”
—David Mura, author of The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself

“Leona Sevick’s The Bamboo Wife is a mesmerizing poetry collection that takes readers on a poignant journey through the intricacies of identity, culture, memory, and love. The title evokes the strange and silent presence of a “bamboo wife.” This artifact serves as a metaphor for the complexities and nuances of human relationships, and the enduring impact of the past on the present. In a book that ‘slices my heart at unexpected times,’ The Bamboo Wife is a compelling and emotionally resonant work.”
—January Gill O’Neil, author of Glitter Road

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