BeastsandViolinsisacollectionofAmericannarrativepoetryaddressingthemesoflifeandworkinthewesternUnitedStates.Thepoemsreadlikebrokencountrysongssungfromapavedfarm:deaddeerandtraintrips,adogattheedgeofthefire.BeastsandViolinsbeginswithadarkbirthandfinishesatpeaceonthewater,withthenecessarystopsinbetween.
