Overview

In The Ordering of Stars, Christianson's often lyrical poems wander like scavengers of wonder, mapping the heart through seasons of absence and wistful light. A heron's winged lift, the sudden flash of kingfisher blue, salmonberries ripening at the edge of warmth--these images open into poems of birds and shelter, galaxy and ocean, heart grit and season drift. Eclectic and luminous, the collection invites readers to follow where language leads and glimpse the good fortune hidden in the shimmer of the natural world.

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9781962405522

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Reviews

""Scavenged from the leafy / underbrush of thought,"" Kersten Christianson's rich word-hoard still leaves plenty of room for the inarticulate--raven tracks, moth wings, a screaming kettle--in this open-hearted and convivial collection. If, like me, you can't afford to visit Alaska, reading The Ordering of Stars might be the next best thing. --Dave Bonta, author of Ice Mountain: An ElegyThe Ordering of Stars by poet Kersten Christianson is a wistful wandering through the seasons, navigating roadways and remembrance by shape-shifting constellations and a familiar heart-map. Here, the poet takes the reader on a journey, weaving a vibrant story that sings of place, people and its wild inhabitants--herons and kingfishers, brown bears and scallops, fireweed and salmonberry. A cache of found moments, myth and memories --much like shiny treasures favored by corvids--these are poems you will want to pocket. Ever-seeking joy and fortune, this is a collection of kindled hope and unexpected blessings; of survival birthed from absence. --Mary Katherine Creel, author of No One Ever SaysThe Ordering of Stars is a constellation of wild possibilities. The poet, Kersten Christianson, is a master of the lyrical poem and the haibun journey. Take your time with each poem and enjoy her voice-notes. Those ""glimmered words"" are crafted into adept mud-kissed and wind-chimed poems. She has a whimsical way of word-scavenging from ""the leafy underbrush of thought."" It's your good fortune that you're holding this book in your hands --let your ""heart soften with wonder and delight."" --Vivian Faith Prescott, author of The Tide Book Each poem in The Ordering of Stars whispers ""Come-hither,"" invites the reader to a world in which the days move slower, in which life can be fully experienced in its most magical forms. In that sense, it is a spell book. The reader is transformed with each gentle moment, and the natural world will continue to sparkle even after the last poem is read. --Lisa Stice, author of From Reluctant Earth

Author Information

Kersten Christianson is a raven-watching, moon-gazing, English-teaching Alaskan, and author of four poetry collections: Words from the Boreal (Metaphysical Fox Press, 2025), Curating the House of Nostalgia (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions (2020), What Caught Raven's Eye (Petroglyph Press, 2018), and Something Yet to Be Named (Kelsay Books, 2017). She serves as Poetry Editor for the longtime quarterly journal, Alaska Women Speak. Her poetry has appeared in various publications and anthologies. She has been a writer-in-residence at Jenni House Artist Residency (Whitehorse, Yukon), Storyknife Writers Retreat (Homer), and Alderworks Alaska Writers & Artists Retreat (Dyea). She is also a 2024 recipient of the Lin Halterman Grant, awarded through the Alaska Writers Guild. This grant will go towards the purchase of a Little Free Library to gather and share the work of poets, especially that of northern poets. Since 2013, she has been an active member of the regional writer's group, Blue Canoe Writers. Kersten lives in Sitka where she keeps an eye on the tides, shops Old Harbor Books, and hoards smooth ink pens. Founding Editor, Sheila-Na-Gig Editions

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