© 2016, Text by Adam Clay

      All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher: Milkweed Editions, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415.

      (800) 520-6455

       www.milkweed.org

      Published 2016 by Milkweed Editions

      Printed in the United States of America

      Cover design by Mary Austin Speaker

      Cover illustration by Mary Austin Speaker

      Author photo by Jacques-Alain Finkeltroc

      16 17 18 19 20 5 4 3 2 1

       First Edition

      Milkweed Editions, an independent nonprofit publisher, gratefully acknowledges sustaining support from the Jerome Foundation; the Lindquist & Vennum Foundation; the McKnight Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Target Foundation; and other generous contributions from foundations, corporations, and individuals. Also, this activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota. For a full listing of Milkweed Editions supporters, please visit www.milkweed.org.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Clay, Adam, 1978-

      [Poems. Selections]

      Stranger : poems / Adam Clay. -- First edition.

      pages ; cm

      ISBN 978-1-57131-463-5 (acid-free paper) -- ISBN 978-1-57131-909-8 (ebook)

      I. Title.

      PS3603.L385A6 2016

      811’.6--dc23

      2015017007

      Milkweed Editions is committed to ecological stewardship. We strive to align our book production practices with this principle, and to reduce the impact of our operations in the environment. We are a member of the Green Press Initiative, a nonprofit coalition of publishers, manufacturers, and authors working to protect the world’s endangered forests and conserve natural resources. Stranger was printed on acid-free 30% postconsumer-waste paper by Versa Press.

      STRANGER

        Title Page

        Copyright

       ONE

       TWO

       THREE

       FOUR

        Notes

        Acknowledgments

        About the Author

      In the blue display of the cool cathode ray

      I dream a highway back to you

      GILLIAN WELCH