David St. John is a skillful poet. Hush, a collection of poems written by his mid-twenties, clearly establishes his talent as well as reflecting preoccupations common to younger poets. As with many young poets, there are poems modeled after the work of other writers as well as impressionistic poems inspired by paintings. Many of the poems in this collection, however, also connect quite powerfully with the author's personal history. The literary allusions and painterly approach generally work for, rather than against, the outcome. Many poems deal with the struggle to get beyond the preoccupation with self that is part of being an artist to establish the intimacy necessary to being a worthwhile human being. This theme is reflected in a quote from Paul Éluard that precedes the body of the work: "Are we two or am I all alone."

Source: Gale Literature: Contemporary Poets