In these candid poems, Keith Taylor demonstrates his finest power of observation, watching the natural and human world go by. What Can the Matter Be? considers aging and death--of the self, of animals, of the earth--as well as place, and how rootedness in place allows a sturdy vantage point from which to see and reflect on the wider world. Poems like "That Room in Alberta" and "Responsibilities" contrast the minutia of individually lived moments against the global, uncontrollable decay of nature and society, and curiosity and admiration for nature shine through in works such as "Under Their Mortal Glory" and "The Gleaners." Together, these nuanced and often surprising works urge empathy and call out in sorrow, love, and hope for the world.