Monday, February 27, 2006

Brigid Pegeen Kelly - Orchard

Much talk about this book, and the poem Dragon. Surreal in mentation, great grasp of moving from one image into another, some great end lines. Only half way through at the moment and I was reading it in the dead of the night so maybe all that talk of "mists", "wolves" and "dawn" was just a bit much. My initial response is that below the lovely surface, there isn't much depth here. I don't sense any world-view, any real insights into "the way we are", but then, maybe thats just not the kind of poet she is. I will return.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Forrest Gander is A Strange Guy

Have just about finished reading Forrest Gander's new book, and I must say it is elliptical, but with some kind of "realistic"/ "realism" cut up element to it. "A history of violence" is a series of poems where a criminal mind remembers the night and we as readers almost have to put it together for him. I don't think the collection as a whole lives up to the first few poems, but I am interested enough to follow up and find out more about him. Disclaimer, I know nothing about this guy at the moment !