Ronald Guidry is a poet who works within the strict discipline of oral magic in poetry. This is amply supported by a mastery of images and their built-in emotive impact. The refinements in The Flesh of an Orange, Guidrys first and very much welcome book, are such that they evoke sensations not normally found even in poetry. One of these refinements is the ability of the poet to evoke, as an example, the tart, astringent smell of an orange when its skin is broken. Readers will find much to savor in Guidrys lambent new collection, clad in gold out of nature and standing on pedestals of masterpiece.
