Only as the Day Is Long: New and Selected Poems

Dorianne Laux’s new and selected poems showcase a voice that is plainspoken yet intensely lyrical. Her work pays close attention to labor, family, grief, and the fleeting grace of ordinary moments. Laux writes with emotional clarity that never feels simplistic; the tenderness is hard-earned. The poems often begin in the everyday and open into something larger—memory, regret, awe. Her lines carry a quiet music that makes even small scenes feel monumental. Across the selection, you can see a sustained commitment to honesty, especially about pain and survival. Laux’s images are tactile and grounded, rooted in the body and its burdens. The collection also reveals humor and warmth, a refusal to romanticize suffering while still finding beauty. It’s a deeply readable book that rewards both newcomers and longtime fans. The overall effect is intimate, steady, and consoling without being sentimental. These poems keep faith with the lives people actually live.