All the Whiskey in Heaven

 
“A solid selection of 30 years of Bernstein’s lyrical, thickly layered poetry. Bernstein has, on occasion, been criticized as ‘difficult.’ But Whiskey does the great service of showing how consistently he has explored the true, richly emotional meanings of what we’re trying to express when we speak or write in halting phrases or with nervous repetition and hesistation. Or as Bernstein puts it: ‘Poetry is like a swoon, with its difference / it brings you to your senses.’” — Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly
 
“... a rousing selection from thirty years of work ... Bernstein deftly shifts moods and tones, but a sense of urgency and a hard-won clarity are in evidence throughout this volume.” — David O’Neill, Bookforum