I must say that I was introduced to Philip Levine's work in The Writers Studio. Somehow, I never encountered it before. This particular book was in the boxes of 800 books--I am grateful, because the gift held all of Philip Levine's books. I chose this one at random. In the introduction, it says that this is last book that Levine put together (with help though) himself. And that fits what is being written about. The poems I most related to are the writing poems and there are l

I have to admit that Covid-17 has been awful. The death toll keeps rising. I disinfect disinfectant. But, exciting things are happening within our culture. ZOOM and Crowdcast and many other platforms are offering digital life. For those of you who don't know, as I say--Say it loud for those in the back! I'm Bipolar with more anxiety disorders than than the galaxy know what to do with. So, I don't go to concerts. They are loud and scary places that I CANNOT go!--but, with ZOOM

Well, I've circled back around to Simic. This book is much more of what I know. This collection is made up of prose poems and prose poems series. The language and use of metaphor, fairytale, and allusions are amazing. Of course, I didn't "get" everything. I seem to have a cultural disconnect. In the first section, I am pretty sure World War I and especially, World War II are alluded to AND made into allegory through fairytale images. Mice nibble on ears, and ancestors eat cab

Oh, Goddess. That's what I've got to say. This poetry collection takes on the role of femme and butch discourse in the lesbian and LGBTQA+ communities. She writes precisely every image, emotion, disparity that seemingly exists. One of the comments on the back of the cover calls the poetry "irreverent." I would call it subversive and honest. The Bible is mentioned as part of her upbringing and is paired with sexual imagery. There is an idea that both sex and the body is just a

To start, Bliss is a wonderful collection that everyone should read--not just poets. My book is signed--how that I happened I know not. This is an older collection, but it is transformative. It uses the short line form to create a narrow channel down the page. My favorite poem so far, I have been reading it a while on and off before the challenge is "Self-portrait." The shorts line is used to precisely capture experience and location. What is learned where is resonates on a d

Render: An Apocalypse is tenderly brutal. Farm life is described in detail and captures the brutal and desperate wants of both the humans and the animals--and of course, the humans that feel like the animals. The language is both shocking and lyrical. Each action is described precisely. I admit that I haven't eaten meat for three months--so I am not the best candidate for a stellar review. I feel a bit sick...but that is no fault of the poetry. These poems force me to imagine

For a long moment, I thought I had just read this collection and that I must have already used it in the Sealey Challenge. But, I have not. This attests to the jarring and memorable lines, the off beat and musical style--words that fly. I love language--all diction. I love how words are used colloquially, or how slang can be profound and carry meaning far more vast than "proper" or "correct" words. I love Coleman's use of astounding vocabulary and how she riffs it until, it c

White Elephants confused and dazzled me. There is universal emotion, wonderful word play, samplings of other languages. In truth, I wanted to hear it read--and might try to find a reading. I want to reiterate or iterate that it is not the poet's job to explain their work. Or make it completely accessible, or... I love diversity and can appreciate it--even though I don't always stereotypically "get" it. Vazirani writes about a cross play of different cultures and religions--de

This is an intriguing collection. There is a lot of span in terms of topics, but most often the idea of death, or children, or dreams, come up--paired with 'high brow' visceral language. The diction is meant to showcase the beauty of language and the craft of the line. I found this to be completely different than the more simple diction of the other poets I have read during the Sealey Challenge. So--is this just a male perspective issue? I doubt it. These lines and diction ar

Ok peeps--I'm counting this as half way through my cheating Sealey Challenge Self! Facts about the Moon is incredible. Again, a female prospective on body, feeling inside oneself, sex, relationships--pretty much everything that is experienced. "Kissing Again" is my example poem. It is surprising and vulnerable, while remaining humble. " ...sex, yes, though squeezed in / between the minor depths of anger, despair-- / standing up amid the laundry / or fumbling onto the strip of