These poems, written for occasions, remind us of those occasions that recur--celebrations, commemorations, rites of passage, and ordinary moments of being that linger in memory as turning points or extraordinary encounters or summonings. Tied as they are to particular times and places, readers will recognize in them echoes of their own beginnings, partings, and moments of awakening. ""Occasions is a grand occasion for celebration. Or, rather, a steady and quiet gratitude, a welcome 'speaking of small things / with great love.' Marilyn McEntyre wrote these glad poems for particular individuals, but I could swear she wrote them all for me. And maybe even for you as well."" --Paul J. Willis, author of Deer at Twilight: Poems from the North Cascades ""These beautiful poems honor rites of passage, moments of wonder, and the fidelity of closely nurtured friendships.
Each is a gift, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the shared grace of interconnected lives."" --Sarah Pollock, Professor Emerita, journalism and English, Mills College ""In this lovely collection of poems, Marilyn McEntyre once again uses her keen sense of observation and exceptional wordsmithing to bring us moments worthy of pause and reflection. Each poem invites us into a place of spaciousness, awareness, and reverence while allowing us to consider and appreciate the emotions we share through the ups and downs of a lifetime. From eulogies to births to anniversary celebrations, McEntyre's Occasions reminds us of what it means to be fully alive."" --Marcia Meier, Author and Publisher, Weeping Willow Books ""Deep calls to deep in this book. If you don't have occasions that match the ones that inspired these wise, fierce, and gentle poems, you'll just have to invent them! Before I finished the book, I knew exactly which of my friends and family members needed to hear each grace-filled poem."" --Shirley H. Showalter, former president of Goshen College and author of Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World Marilyn McEntyre's recent books include Word by Word: A Daily Spiritual Practice; Make a List: How a Simple Practice can Change Our Lives and Open Our Hearts; and Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies.