Moving, playful, and wise, the poems gathered here speak of absences and endings, aging and retrospection, but also of gifts and renewals. They explore bodies and minds in transition, as well as the everyday objects and rituals that place us in the present. Werewolves, mermaids, and dreams emerge alongside different forms of animal life and fragments of our damaged environment.
Late Poems brings together many of Margaret Atwood's most recognized and celebrated themes, permeated by meticulous descriptions of the natural world, passing through witty encounters with aliens, trivial and amusing situations (such as keeping old passports), urgent political issues, legends, myths, and the ever-stubborn defense of women.
A master of writing, Atwood reminds us to live in the moment and not just be alive. The most important thing, according to the author, is to enjoy every day, whether carving Halloween lanterns from pumpkins, having sex, or simply remembering to watch the September mushrooms bloom.