In a time of distance And other poems

Best known for the much-acclaimed and madly popular "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series, McCall Smith is an immensely prolific author, having brought forth entries in at least a dozen book series for children and adults. This volume, then, adds to an already rich and full bibliography, and perhaps the only surprise is his diversion toward poetry as a genre; the humanity, warmth, and intelligence are all familiar. Smith's verse reflects his experience as a traveler, and as someone as deeply immersed in African mores as Scottish; the strongest poems in this collection may be his impressions of wildlife ("Elephants," "Kangaroos"), and, strangely, the weakest may be his paeans to reading itself. Like many prose writers who turn to poetry, Smith is more interested in the meaning he wishes to convey than in the complexities of the language in which poetry resides, but his poetry, in its very amiability, may provide an effective point of entry for readers new to the form. VERDICT Meeting the creator of Mma. Ramotswe in another guise, as a gentle guide through life in many climates, is likely to prove irresistible for Alexander McCall Smith's dedicated fan base. --Graham Christian

From In a Time of Distance and Other Poems By Alexander McCall Smith Some years ago I visited a friend who has a cottage in Eastern Ontario. One evening, my friend demonstrated to me an unexpected talent. WOLVES I read Farley Mowat and thought I knew something about wolves, About how they run down Their prey in lengthy pursuit, About the long brotherhoods Of wolves and their lonely deaths; I thought I knew about all that Until I heard a wolf howl in the night, And was unprepared For what I heard, for the keening Of it, the utter desolation. We stood outside, my friend and I, With the world white about us As he cupped his hands And howled into the darkness; From somewhere far away Came a response, a howl so sad Th at no words could describe Th e regret of it, the loneliness: Yes, I am here, it must have said; Yes, I am here, and that is all. Excerpted from In a Time of Distance: And Other Poems by Alexander McCall Smith All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.