This is a book of “modern” poetry with some traditional techniques thrown in for added effect. While some uses of this blend work better than others, poetry is all about creativity, so this work is likely to appeal to a wider range of readers than most. Since I am an avowed fan of true poetic […]
“Love in Sanskrit” by Suhas Mahesh
Translation of ancient writings is a many-edged sword. The advantage is that you are presenting works that have stood the test of time; they obviously appeal to the human condition. However, they are also taken centuries out of context. Oh, yes, and in a different language. Which tempts the translator to explain everything too much. […]
“Sailing Without Ahab, Ecopoetic Travels” by Steve Mentz
A note to begin: I am uncomfortable giving a review to a general readership about a book designed for a highly specialized audience. However the book is marketed to everyone as poetry, so I will try to be useful to both groups. James Joyce’s Ulysses has been listed as the book that most people say […]
“Thinking of Dinner at Lunch” by Cole Feldman
This is not really a book of poetry. It is a book about an author trying to capture that ineffable something that has forced itself from the world into his perceptions: trying to find a form to communicate it to us. This poet is the man to do it. He can handle a wide range […]
“A Tree Becomes a Room” by J. P. White
It is a pleasure to read an artist who realizes that poetry is as much about what you don’t say as about what you choose to put on the page. One key connection between the poet and the reader is the mutual understanding of the understated. Poets are playing a game with us. How much […]
The Truth I Must Invent by Francis DeClemente
Poetry written as therapy for the poet is problematic. There is a delicate balance between writing for the sake of the writer and writing to communicate to the reader. Once it has been written, poetry that is too therapeutic has served its purpose. Once it is words on the page its value becomes what it […]
“Bobish” by Magdalena Ball
I’ll say that from the start, this book impressed me, mainly for what it doesn’t have. There are no Forewords, Introductions, Letters from the Author, or any of those crutches writers use to explain what they’re afraid their art does not communicate. This is art that stands on its own. The book is an interesting […]
“I Made a Place for You” by Damian White and Francesco Orazzini
I don’t often review poetry that makes a point of being hard to understand. However, this poet works with an artist, and they have blended the poetry and the artwork, presumably to aid the communication. Whether it helps or not is up to the reader to decide. This is a book of poetry that will […]
“The Distaff Side” by Mary Leader
As fans of heredity sites and the history of fabrics will know, the distaff is the female side of humanity. If you want more than that, read this book, because I guaranteed by the end you will know far more than you ever thought possible about weaving, spinning, stitching, women and femininity. And the history […]
“Walking the Labyrinth” by Pamela Wax
Poetry as therapy is a common genre. Those in mourning who wish to take control of their loss often do so by talking about it or writing it down. This seems to be a therapeutic way of dealing with guilt and sorrow, and if it works for them, it is not for us to judge. […]