The poems in REVIVING THE DEAD are triggered by the death of the poet's father, but they work to do more than narrate events. Centered by the long, title sequence, these poems come at death and grief, as well as faith and skepticism, from as many angles as the poet can muster, using science and religion, history and myth, popular culture, and what seem to be trivial oddities, to create a particular way of seeing that has drawn praise from writers, editors, and readers alike. The poems are polished but electric; they are dark but vibrant with love and longing. This collection brings us the characters, places, and incidents of narrative poetry, but it also rises to the exacting lyricism of a singular voice that connects us to what it means to be human.