On hiatus

I've fallen so far behind and haven't found the inspiration to keep up with the daily reviews.

Someday, I'll have energy.

How to Be Cruel by Sandra Beasley

Julie: Damn. Just damn. Read this one.

August 16

Allergy Girl VII by Sandra Beasley

Julie: This poem impressed me with its clever comparison and sneaky imagery. I love when poets link two things that weren't obvious, bringing depth to both, and Beasley does that here.

August 5

Lyrical by Joseph Millar

Julie: I love this poem for its simplicity, its sense of humor, and the sadness of its almost commonplace ending. There are poems that are great for their extravagance, for bringing me to worlds I could never have imagined on my own. And then there are those that capture something about the world I do live in, but didn't notice. I am the neighbor of a yappy dog, but never thought to write a poem about it, to ask myself why.

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At the Fish Hatchery by Claire Whitenack


Julie: I felt suspended by the first line. Expectant. Waiting for something to come around to make a case for that interesting assertion. And nothing did. I enjoyed the sound of this poem, but I wanted more.

August 2

And I'm Sorry You're Being Such a Pain by Jessy Randall

Julie: Snerk. Okay, so my mother isn't really like this, but if you combine all of my female relatives, you get something pretty darned close. Except my cat is bigger. My cat is always bigger. Randall obviously has a skill for this sly sort of voice, and I enjoyed.

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Either/Or by Gail Segal

Julie: I hate when I can't figure out at least what a poet is trying to do, and I couldn't here. Which means that the poem can't do much for me. It's like going to Lowe's and looking at all the tools. They may be neat, but they just sit there and stare at me.

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Danielle Suite by Albert Goldbarth

Julie: This is a dense, quicksilver poem, with beautiful lines butting up against staid, flashing images struggling with nondescript reportage. If I poked at it, separating the sheep from the goats, I don't think I'd end up with a better poem (two poems). The prosaic lines anchor the lofty ones. Everything is pulling its own weight.

Poetry commentary on Surroundings

Rob of Surroundings is commenting on each of the poets in an anthology. I've been meaning to link to him, but I have the brain of a very stupid rice pudding.

In any case, please give a read. It's worth your while.

Rob comments on:

1. Guy Birchard
2. Richard Caddel
3. David Chaloner
4. Peter Dent
5. Andrew Duncan
6. Roy Fisher
7. Harry Guest
8. Lee Harwood
9. Philip Jenkins
10. Grace Lake (Part 1?)
11. Tom Lowenstein

Writing Blind reviews Dorianne Laux

Rebecca of Writing Blind continues her reviews with a review of Dorianne Laux's Awake.

August 1, 2006

Your Future Spouse by Jessy Randall

Julie: There's something inherently depressing about destiny. As Gabriel says somewhere on WEE, if one of us is destined, we're all destined. The idea of the poem is wonderful. The execution falls a little flat for me, but I'm not in a very good mood and that definitely colors my reads.

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Poetry Daily is a repeat

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Dead Soldier by Kevin Prufer

Julie: I knew I wasn't going to like this poem. And then I did. Oh, I did. This poem is both spare and rambling, with a beautifully prosaic rhyme. Oh, yes I did.