writing reviews

  • "Plainspoken and expansive, Orifici's poems are born of an impeccable ear and precise pitch; they embody a staggering range of personal experience and historical awareness, trajectories of remembered and present lives. Acute perceptions of ceaseless becoming... they convey what it is to exist on the physical and spiritual edge..."

    - William O’Daly, author of The New Gods and translator of Pablo Neruda’s Book of Twilight

  • “Rattle of the Sun marks out the arc of a life whose worldly range is astonishingly wide–everything from the Camino de Santiago and the fall of the Berlin Wall to Farah Fawcett and pandemic onset, from a Sicilian palazzo to hill town Vermont...But Orifici’s spiritual journey is what’s really at stake here, the stops along that road rendered in intense, abundant detail. Sweet, cosmopolitan, satiric, wise, wry, soulful, self-doubting, impetuous, annoyed, curious, and more: this book has it all!"

    – David Rivard, author of Standoff, winner of the PEN/New England Prize in Poetry

  • "Reading Rattle of the Sun was such a pleasure. The subjects of Italy, Vermont, and gardens are so appealing to me. And the poems are beautifully written: wonderful language and thoughtful complexities. I remember well being in Tuscany and really grasping that sadness- beauty connection and beauty is not a word I use lightly. And I too like to 'bask in anarchy'. This book is rich. "

    - Lesle Lewis, author of Small Boat and Rainy Days on the Farm

  • This book will delight travelers, gardeners, poetry lovers and anyone who enjoys reflecting on nature and what a gift it is to intertwine with it. Gregg's use of the language is artful and atomospheric. Several of the poems especially hit home because of the time I have spent time in both rural Italy and rural Vermont. What fun to reminisce about those experiences with such insightful words! We love this collection.

    — M. Horne | Reader | Rattle of the Sun

  • As a mystery writer, it is rare that I indulge in the luxury of poetry reading. I am so impressed with this collection that I had to review it. The poet has a wonderful command of vocabulary and breezily uses nouns as verbs to paint a brilliant picture of the scene ie: in Homesteading: “curtains” our living room, “slipcovers” the sofa. Or when he uses unexpected words as adjectives, as in The Witching Hour: “. . . an orange creamsicle evening.” Beautifully descriptive. The poet’s blending of a palazzo garden in Sicily combined with descriptions of native plants “that any New England gardener would kill for” exemplifies his mastery of the language, the flora amidst the Italian backdrop. Rattle of the Sun needs to read meditatively, and more than once, to appreciate its depth. I highly recommend.

    — Lynne Kennedy | Reader | Rattle of the Sun

  • This collection combines individual reflection with cultural and historical breadth, presenting vivid, plainspoken poems that offset intimacy and expansiveness. Perfect for readers who appreciate layered, soulful verse. Its strength lies in specific language and emotional scope, making it both reflective and vibrant.

    — Oscar | Reader | Rattle of the Sun

  • Rattle of the Sun is one of those rare poetry collections that manages to feel both intimate and expansive at the same time. Gregg Orifici writes with a sharp eye for detail and a generosity of spirit that brings every poem alive. The voices he captures—whether of a child finding his place in the world, the resilience of age, or even the overlooked life of a garden—resonate with honesty and warmth. What struck me most was the sheer variety. One moment I was walking the Camino de Santiago, the next witnessing the fall of the Berlin Wall, and then suddenly I was back in a small New England home or a Sicilian village. Yet none of it feels scattered—the threads tie together beautifully in a way that reflects the wide journey of a life. The language is plain yet deeply musical, never showy but always precise. These poems invite you to linger, to reread, and to let them settle in. They carry humor, insight, tenderness, and a sense of wonder that makes even the ordinary feel luminous.

    - Oraycle | Reader | Rattle of the Sun

  • Rattle Of the Sun is a quietly powerful collection that finds poetry in the everyday. With clear, thoughtful language, Orifici's poems reflect on nature, time, and fleeting moments of light and stillness. A wonderful read that invites you to slow down and see the world with fresh eyes.

    - ES | Reader | Rattle of the Sun

gardening reviews

  • My husband and I moved to Brattleboro, Vermont from San Diego, California about ten years ago. Our Vermont house was a lovely cape with several “empty” gardens in front and back. We knew very little about gardening in New England and I have always wanted true English Cottage Gardens. When we met Gregg and told him what we were hoping for, he completely understood. We now have gardens that last from March to October, of all sizes, shapes, and colors, one flower or shrub fading into another as the season passes. Gregg designed and implemented my Cottage Gardens with something blooming all the time! The colors and varieties are magnificent! We highly recommend this “gentle” gardener.

    - Brattleboro, VT

  • Gregg has transformed out tired, boring garden, into one, full of surprises. Now we have color all year round. Even the textures are interesting!

    Marlboro, VT