In this selection of his best verse there are poems of "high" and "low" art, spells and prayers, meditations, shemanic maps, and, in the centre of the book, "messages," those strange, inspired "gifts" at the core of Skelton's art. In making the selection for this volume, editor Harold Rhenisch, himself an accomplished poet, has held to the image that Skelton's themes repeat like the ripples of water spreading out from a pebble dropped into a pool, and has attempted to bring together the best ripple from each dropped pebble.
Poet, anthologist, editor, teacher, biographer, art and literary critic, historical writer, initiated witch and occultist, Robin Skelton came to Canada in 1963, the author of five collections of poetry and nine other books. He taught at the University of Victoria for almost thirty years, teaching in the Department of English and then in the Department of Creative Writing, of which he was the founding Chairman in 1973. In 1967, together with John Peter, he founded The Malahat Review. He published approximately 100 books. His publications with Beach Holme include Wrestling the Angel (1994) and his newest title One Leaf Shaking (1996). He passed away August 22, 1997 and will be greatly missed.