The Time Between Rivers

THE TIME BETWEEN RIVERS encompasses half a century of writing, teaching, and finding sanctuary in rivers. Bill McGlothing has a keen eye for the striking detail, whether that be a snake’s slithered trail etched in sand or the bowl of a smoker’s pipe in Jerusalem “stained with fading paint / of rich forest birds / and smears of nicotine.” We visit literal rivers in this collection of poetry and essays, but McGlothing also floats us down time’s river, from his first, eye-opening teaching gig to his last class, from childhood memories to wry takes on aging. The stops along the way—“the time between”— offer rich, eclectic portraits of the natural world, relationships, and classroom experiences. McGlothing’s writing, at times witty and often poignant, is packed with intricate language and powerful imagery.