As the twentieth century comes to a close, Ken Norris continues to file his lyrical reports in a way that defines poetry "the art / of the possible." This instalment (Books 12-15) includes "The Book of Fire," "Island Stars" "Tenor," and "The Concertos." Some of these poems play with fire, some bring the tropical beauty of Fiji and Tonga alive, and some send up prayers for solace at the end of a frightening century. Both musical and documentary, Norris' work creates a vision of the poet as observer and as scribe, "taking down a letter to a loved one, /the world."