Atlantis Poems by

Luminous poems of fierce love and enduring grace, set against the salt marshes of Cape Cod and the shadow of profound loss.

In Atlantis, Mark Doty charts the daily life of Provincetown against the deepening shadows of the AIDS epidemic. The volume moves between harbor walks and quiet rooms, finding solace in beached dories and late Beethoven quartets.

Provincetown’s coastal margins anchor these elegies, where shifting tides and abandoned boat hulls become emblems of loss. Doty observes the physical world with fierce clarity, turning grief into an enduring testament of devotion.

The poignant, accomplished new collection of poetry from the author of My Alexandria--1993 winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, Los Angeles Times Book Award, 1993 National Book Award Finalist.

• Contemporary Poetry: Doty chronicles the harrowing realities of the AIDS crisis, portraying friends navigating illness alongside the intricate movements of Beethoven’s late string quartets.
• Nature Poetry: Lyrical verses capture the stark beauty of Cape Cod, from shimmering schools of minnows in the tide flats to the granite causeway curving toward Long Point Light.
• Gay Poetry: Vivid urban reflections celebrate queer resilience and desire, moving through perfume-scented Manhattan avenues, bathhouse memories, and public declarations of dignity.
• Narrative Medicine: Intimate poems bear witness to end-of-life care, capturing the tender bond between a dying partner and a golden retriever brought home in his final weeks.
• Also by This Author: Fire to Fire, Sweet Machine and Source.