“The strongest new book of poetry this year.”

“Riley’s oeuvre breaks new lyric ground with its singular style. This rich, polyphonic collection will keep readers entranced.”

“Magnificently singular. If evocation of place, however pungent, were the main thing in Riley’s work I wouldn’t be very interested. But he’s pursuing something a lot more ambitious, even abstract, that has deeply to do with, I almost want to say, sacred properties of language or language that could cast a spell against harm. He needs to make big sense; he has the deep confidence it takes to press language hard —not for self-amusement but to hear something he is desperate to hear.”

“Intoxicating. . . Sounds unheard and unrivaled since Atsuro Riley’s acclaimed debut permeate Heard-Hoard. His elegant rhythms are atmospheric and robust, his neologisms transform the “weed-embrangling snuffle-path,” his vernacular is magical as “dew-sparks galaxifying the crabgrass.” Amid each mesmerized reading, like dancing to a good song for a good long time before truly hearing its lyrics, Heard-Hoard’s remarkable stories crystallize; music becomes narrative. Atsuro Riley is an extraordinary poet. This book holds all the meanings of fantastic.”

“Rendered in a dense and beautiful, intensely expressive and inventive language; indebted to Hopkins as well as Heaney. Amazing and indelible, a brilliant work.”