St. John, David. The Auroras.(Brief article)(Book review)

* St. John, David. The Auroras. Harper: HarperCollins. Mar. 2012. c.96p. ISBN 9780062088482. $24.99. POETRY

An aurora is an atmospheric light display, a natural event with perhaps mystical overtones. In this aptly titled volume, St. John (Study for the World's Body) gives readers shimmering lights of word and thought, renderings that contain "the most glorious sound [and sights], chimes & rattles & an iridescence in the ear--." St. John divides his work into three sections, the first presenting an assortment of ballads, with characters ranging from philosophers to mathematicians. In the next, he examines the landscapes of his youth, some rife …