By: Robert Savino Oventile
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Publication Date: September 9, 2025
ISBN: 979-8891327696
Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose
Review Date: July 22, 2025
Through his collection of poetry and photos titled The Canyon, poet Robert Savino Oventile renders the Eaton Canyon a tangible form. The minutiose details with which he records its characteristic elements and describes the inhabitants found in its close surroundings shows his keen observation and silent appreciation of nature. As a frequent hiker, Savino Oventile also possesses immense knowledge about the different species of plants, insects and animals found there, elaborating on their growth and developmental cycles. Perhaps, it is no coincidence that his photographer friends are also fellow hikers and nature lovers, including a naturalist, an environmentalist and a volunteer docent at the Eaton Canyon Natural area.
Featuring boulders and coast live oaks to ants and tarantula hawks, the poet invites us on a fascinating journey, introducing us to myriads of life forms native to the area from a new perspective. Particularly of interest is the poem ‘Deer in the Canyon,’ which traces the trajectory of the evolution of mule deer and describes how deer activity relies heavily on the passing of time, transitioning between past and present, from dawn to dusk; and finally ends as if on a slightly humorous tone with a hiker capturing this phenomenon within a selfie frame. Although there are some references to humans in his poems, the author mainly focuses on the negative impacts of human interference on the environment, notable among which are poaching, taxidermy, encroachment of natural habitats and the 2025 ‘Fire in the Canyon.’
Just like a buck lifts its head and stares into the distance, these poems have an intrinsic quality that force us to stop and listen intently to the silent words on the page, suddenly transporting us to the wilderness beyond. Another instance where this holds true is in the poem, ‘Raven,’
‘‘After a canyon walk at dusk, return to the car, get in,
lock the doors, crack a window, switch off the interior
light, tilt back the seat. Shrouded by heavily tinted
glass, sink into the plush black upholstery. Breath
slows. Eyes close. A raven peers into the darkness.’’
While it is hard to say that the poems have an inherent rhythm or cadence, the prosaic style makes them more equipped and versatile to adequately present all the images and information they encompass. It also seems that with all the niche vocabulary and specific nomenclatures pertaining to different geographical formations or plants, insects, and animal species, this anthology would greatly benefit from the addition of a glossary at the end. What is interesting is that, despite its short length, this book requires multiple readings and with each exploration, there is always something new to examine and enjoy.
To conclude, let us look at a few lines from the poem, ‘Boulder Congregation:’
‘‘Behind private property signs and below some houses,
a haven for rattlers and a stay for erosion, still,
stable, interlocking, a heavy carpet of quite regular
pattern, these boulders, fairly uniform in size, sit in a
tight gather, rain-clean riprap.’’
Quill says: The Canyon is a heartfelt portrayal of nature and its biodiversity, an anthology that deserves to be cherished slowly.
For more information about The Canyon, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/the-canyon-by-robert-savino-oventile.
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