staring at the animal

$19.95

by John Cross

Winner of the Snowbound Chapbook Award, John Cross’s staring at the animal is a haunting exploration of the tension between raw experience and the search for transcendence. These poems are fragmented and glittering, full of jagged beauty that speaks to the delicate balance of awe and ruin. Cross’s language is visceral, his images powerful, and his themes universal—addressing the ephemeral nature of life and the deeper hunger for meaning beyond the material world.

From intimate reflections on grief and longing to profound meditations on human connection and the natural world, staring at the animal offers readers a deeply emotional journey. The chapbook is a hymn to brokenness, a guide to finding light in the fractured pieces of existence.

by John Cross

Winner of the Snowbound Chapbook Award, John Cross’s staring at the animal is a haunting exploration of the tension between raw experience and the search for transcendence. These poems are fragmented and glittering, full of jagged beauty that speaks to the delicate balance of awe and ruin. Cross’s language is visceral, his images powerful, and his themes universal—addressing the ephemeral nature of life and the deeper hunger for meaning beyond the material world.

From intimate reflections on grief and longing to profound meditations on human connection and the natural world, staring at the animal offers readers a deeply emotional journey. The chapbook is a hymn to brokenness, a guide to finding light in the fractured pieces of existence.

Winner of the Snowbound Chapbook Award

“John Cross’s poems are like shattered gems—prickly, beautifully wrought, and haunting. They weave a hymn of survival, a guide for navigating the profound struggles of existence. staring at the animal is a powerful songbook of imagination and resilience.”

—Gillian Conoley, Judge for the Snowbound Chapbook Award

About the Author

John Cross earned an undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His work has appeared in New American Writing, Volt, Forklift Ohio, and other journals and was awarded the 2001 Mary Roberts Rinehart Award. He lives in Los Angeles, with his wife and four cats, and he teaches at Westridge School in Pasadena.

Advanced Praise

“Cross’s staring at the animal enchants with its delicate balance of disciplined sight and unifying warmth. The ‘good sun’ in his poems casts light not just on the external world but also on the internal struggles of the self. This collection offers a uniquely transformative reading experience.” —Jay Thompson, The Kenyon Review

“These poems ache in their jaggedness, glittering through disassembly. Cross’s imagery is sharp and evocative, inviting readers to feel their way through the complexities of human emotion and experience. His work is both tender and fierce, a testament to the resilience of the spirit.” —Ghoti Magazine

“John Cross’s poems are like shattered gems—prickly, beautifully wrought, and haunting. They weave a hymn of survival, a guide for navigating the profound struggles of existence. staring at the animal is a powerful songbook of imagination and resilience.” —Gillian Conoley, Judge for the Snowbound Chapbook Award

“Cross’s language is startling and meticulous, spinning associations that make the spine tingle. His poems, grounded in sound and sense, transport readers to a world they recognize just before he transforms it into something new and strange.” —Cole Swensen

Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-932195-71-2