Earth's Breath is a brave undertaking. Arranged in three parts to correspond with the before, during and after of the storm, Susan Hawthorne has captured the essence of the moment and the lingering toll a natural disaster takes on those who have lived through it. Hawthorne delivers legend, fable and emotion as well as reflections on humanity, nature and science. She has interspersed her topic with delightful descriptions of tropical birds and plants.

Earth's Breath depicts a vast historical and emotional landscape through meticulous attention to detail. In this case, much of the detail reflects the poet's love of the natural world.