mad as birds


In "Mad as Birds," S.M. Foran crafts a poignant and evocative collection of poems that delve into the haunting realm of memory loss. Through a tapestry of literary and mythological themes, the poet navigates the shadowy journey from the inherited risk of dementia to the stark reality of life in a care home. Drawing from personal experiences with his grandfathers' battles with dementia, Foran offers a multifaceted perspective, capturing the voices of caregivers, family members, and those directly affected. This collection provides a profound and intimate glimpse into the gradual disappearance of the self, inviting readers to reflect on the universal and deeply personal nature of memory.

The poems in mad as birds serve as a visceral exploration of memory loss. From the hint of an inherited likelihood of developing dementia to the fully realized experience of residence in a care home, the poet traces the shadowed paths by which one travels to the shores of Lethe. Weaving literary and mythological themes throughout this collection, S.M. Foran creates a unique window by which to view the disappearance of the self.

S. M. Foran has a Master of Arts in English and a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies and has been teaching literature and creative writing for almost thirty years. He currently works at Montreat College in North Carolina and lives in Black Mountain with his wife and two sons. He has had poems and short stories appear in a wide variety of literary magazines and journals and is also the author of three chapbooks, a reader's miscellany, the blue door, and kafka in the snow.