Organizedaroundthreesequencesofnumberedtercets,NotebookofLastThingsmapsacityundergoingdynamic,transformativechangealongwiththesenseoflivingthatchange--itsrhythmsandpatterns,itspeculiarcommitments,itsurgenciesandpleasuresaswellasitsinequalities,tensions,andfateful“unsaids.“Possessedbythedramaoftheephemeralityofexperience,tunedintothedriftofthepresent,NotebookofLastThingsdrawsonthelyrictomeditateonthepresent,andthepowers,acknowledgedandunacknowledged,thatmakeitup.“NotebookofLastThingsiswrittenindialoguewith(orincounterpointto)WalterBenjamin’sAngelofHistoryandhis/her/its“unreadabletallyofcatastrophe.“Thompsonhasaneagleeyefortheripsandfissuresdestroyingoursocialfabric,forthediscrepanciesthatseemironicandthenrevealthemselvesastragic,the’ArtDecowalkwayoverthebeltline/[witha]Chainlinkfencetodiscouragejumpers.’Inthequalityofhisattention,hecouldbeaminimalistversionofRonSillimanoraBasho-inflectedGeorgeOppen.Hissteadygazeiswellworthfollowing.“--RaeArmantrout
