LizRobbins’spoemshavewhatonlytheverybestpoemshave:asturdytoughnessundergirdingtheirtenderness.Thoughthebodyspinsdervishly-almostblindly-forloveandbeauty,itmustalsoacceptthejoltsofpain,ofphysicallabor.Aswiththefloweringpeartreesin“OntheVergeofSpring,“weareever“hopeful,/hopeless--with[the]smellofsweatsuggestive/ofworkandoffear.“There’sarefreshinghonestyinthesepoemsaswellasatremendousamountofskillwithasensuousmusicallanguage.Eachpoemisadelight,somethingtosavor.-NanceVanWinckel
