Literary picks for week of Nov. 17

Two mature Minnesota poets — James Lenfestey and Timothy Nolan — launch new collections this week published by local literary presses.

Lenfestey introduces “Time Remaining: Body Odes, Praise Songs, Oddities, Amazements,” which publisher Milkweed Editions describes as “a spry collection of poems reflecting on art, the aging body, the soul of language, wringing delights and amazements out of the later years of life.” In his seventh decade and his seventh full-length collection, Lenfestey expresses astonishment at the powers of language and praises Bruce Springsteen, “the language of crow,” fruit flies and cabbages while recalling random acts of kindness.

Lenfestey is the author of “Seeking the Cave: A Pilgrimage to Cold Mountain,” and collections of essays and poems. He is chair of the Literary Witnesses poetry series, through which he will introduce “Time Remaining” at 7 p.m. Thursday at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave. S., Mpls.

Tim Nolan, continuing the tradition of his previous volume “Lines,” offers narrative and meditations focused on family history and the richness of the past in “Things I Didn’t Know I Loved” (Nodin Press). He examines his parents’ wedding photo, ponders the challenges of foreign travel, looks back at TV commercials of the 1950s and recalls the excitement of attending a baseball game. “(Nolan) sustains a subtle balance between boyish whimsy, adult nostalgia, and cosmic speculation as he reflects on daily life in the Upper Midwest,” says publisher Norton Stillman.

Nolan, host of the Readings by Writers series, will launch his collection at this month’s program at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the University Club, 420 Summit Ave., St. Paul. He will be joined by fellow poets Joyce Sutphen, Kao Kalia Yang, Danny Klecko, Bubba Henson and more.

Both programs are free and open to the public.