While We're Waiting

"Belair masterfully captures in his poems the central emotional sting that is to be found in the moments we grow and change. These moments are not ones we always take the time to articulate, but that is what Belair does for us so well... his poems have a quiet rhythm to them that neither hits us over the head nor eludes us. His work has a steadiness to it that carries each poem to a fine and often surprising conclusion." -Lisa Vihos, Verse Wisconsin "It is the insistence that the death of mourning is as inevitable as the deaths of our loved ones and eventually ourselves, that makes "Nearness" one of the briefest yet most effective elegies I have ever read... Belair closes his collection [Walk With Me] with a series of poems purportedly about grief and crisis but ends up expressing his joy in our time to shine..." -Joe Benevento, The Green Hills Literary Lantern "Belair exhibits a freedom from group and rule: equally comfortable with tight, pared language and varied rhythm, or with prose poems, lists, and confessions... this freedom serves to open his art, refreshingly... Belair is destined to chart his life journey in his poetry-observing and experiencing; one part cautious and restrained French-Canadian, and the other, loose and flowing with New York city hip. Accepting and anticipating unforeseen convergences, optimistic, allegiant to no muse but his own, and most content with the ride..." -Timothy P. McLafferty, Verse Wisconsin