Alan Catlin

Perfectbound Paperback, ISBN: 978-0-9965026-4-1, 72 pages, $13.95

Alan Catlin’s latest collection of poetry reflects both the humanistic concerns of his previous work as well as the expanded tone and vision of a wiser older poet.  In Walking Among Tombstones in the Fog, Catlin applies his detailed observation of others to a wide variety of human situations.  There is a particular theme of women’s lives and their meanings.  The collection is populated with women and their stories.  Some of the poems are even written from a female perspective.  Catlin is known for his dark tone, combined with a concern for humanity and the quality of human lives.  His use of language is utilitarian but elegant in its clarity.  Over the decades, he has become one of the most popular independent poets, in large part because of his commitment to realism and personal honesty.  We believe that readers will find this book to be Catlin’s best yet.  This volume demonstrates why Alan Catlin has earned the right to be called one of the best poets of his generation.

“Alan Catlin’s poetry is often grim, focusing on people who have gone off the rails either deliberately, stupidly, or from substance abuse or lack of self-control, or just plain having the deck stacked against them.”            – Charles Rammelkamp                       

“Catlin delivers each poem as an utterly believable, albeit sad, portrait of what Fate itself does to humans, as well as the commonly made choice of drowning each cloying issue in booze, in lieu of looking in the bathroom mirror.   His talent for description in a manuscript completely devoid of cliché, replete with moving and penetrating detail, is more than fodder for thought.  As a poet, Catlin is subtly asking the world to change its screwed-up song, but does it to the beat of musical verse/prose and well-honed narrative technique. His non-judgmental attitude leaves the reader to come to his own conclusions, thereby inciting readers to reflect, assess, and change the way they alter the  world or hide from it, as the case may be.”               – Janet I. Buck

“Catlin has a painter’s eye, keen for details.  Description is his forte, mixed with a dash of subtle irony.  He is objectivisitc, in that he allows his images to speak for themselves.  He is an astute people-watcher and a poet/reporter.”            – Eric Greinke