THE SIMPLEST THING begins with images of effortless action, falling into the comforting support of trusting arms, the softness of sleep, the calming wisdom that awaits after the tumultuous storm. The early poems in this collection rise patiently above the temporary social turmoil to recognize the recurring natural cycles of pain and comfort. In their understated way, Don Langford's poems offer glimpses of understanding. The latter half of the book shifts from innocence to concern about the dangers of blindly taking the easy path that can lead toward darkness and stolen freedoms, and into the tightened grip of ignorance. In these poems, the simplest thing contains ambiguities and acknowledges the uncertainties in life.
