Author Archives: dehaanarts

Five of Sarah Kotchian’s poems are performed on The Unruly Muse Podcast, where hosts Lynn C. Miller and John Modaff present, perform and discuss stories, songs and poems.

“Bloom,” The Unruly Muse podcast, January, 2025. The episode turns to a discussion of “harmony” as antidote to the bumpy beginning to 2025.

“Breath,” The Unruly Muse podcast, July, 2024. The episode explores “What is healing?” 

“Quid Pro Crow,” performed on The Unruly Muse Podcast, December 30, 2023. The episode explores “What price is money?” 

“All That Is Made,” The Unruly Muse podcast, October 28, 2022; navigating the shoals of memory, occasionally running aground on forgetting and denial.

“The Company That Keeps Me,” The Unruly Muse Podcast, 2021. In this episode Lynn and John muster stories, songs, poems and patter as they explore the theme of Home.

As an ornithologist, the first things about Sarah Kotchian’s new book of poetry that caught my eye were its title, the mention of wings. Who could go wrong with such a start!

I was drawn in by themes that took me deeper and deeper—beyond the beautiful cover art and several poems in the collection that reminded me Sarah is also a visual artist. In “Canvas,” what a lovely first line My paint brushes are dry, when describing how she misses a friend with whom she used to share painting projects. 

Light of Wings: Poems (published February 2024, University of New Mexico Press.) was a 2024 Finalist in the NM/Arizona Book Awards’ Poetry Category. Winners will be announced October 1. Order the book here.

Finalists in every category can be found at nmbookcoop.com.

The New Mexico State Library has honored Sarah Kotchian’s new poetry collection, Light of Wings, as a notable book of New Mexico poetry, December 2023. You can follow the library’s reading recommendations for poetry throughout the year on the New Mexico State Library website.