Obits: Reading Behind the Fine Print

Recent Door County Poet Laureate Barbara Larsen’s seventh book is Obits: Reading behind the fine print, uses her interest in obituaries to move beyond the printed words to capture essential meaning of the subject’s lives. At times light-hearted, at times poignant, but always respectful, Larsen’s poems bring energy, hope, and resonance to lives of the departed.

Her collection runs the gamut of people, including an Civil Rights activist, an actress with stage fright, a gay botanist, an iguana at a children’s museum; a clinical child psychologist with a Tarzan yell; and a variety of others from all walks of life and callings.

Collaborating with the poet were two of the poet’s creative friends and previous collaborators: the whimsical illustrations were drawn by Gretchen Maring and design/layout by Kate Rericha.

The resulting work belies the title, as it is anything but morose. Rather, Obits joyously celebrates the inherent goodness and humanness of lives now passed.