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vladdbad's review
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
5.0
These poems are an interesting reflection of the scars that wars leave... And a reminder that there are no good guys in the politics of violence. As an American soldier, I can't say I exactly *endorse* her perspective or find it the whole story... But my perspective is enriched for having read it.
II doubt if I met her in person we'd agree on much, and based on some of her poems there might even be some significant tension. But there is a power to her words, and some of her techniques (especially in the poems composed as though taken from redacted letters to a prisoner) are intriguing. The collection as a whole has strength.
It is also a potent reminder that at least for Iran and Iraq, my enemy's enemy is oft enough still my own. Dichotomies don't seem to do well, there.
II doubt if I met her in person we'd agree on much, and based on some of her poems there might even be some significant tension. But there is a power to her words, and some of her techniques (especially in the poems composed as though taken from redacted letters to a prisoner) are intriguing. The collection as a whole has strength.
It is also a potent reminder that at least for Iran and Iraq, my enemy's enemy is oft enough still my own. Dichotomies don't seem to do well, there.
Content Warnings
Minor: Islamophobia, Torture, and Violence
Poetry reflective of the family of some of those lost in the Iran-Iraq War.chaostalking's review
3.0
January wrap-up: https://youtu.be/qjZkhHZoVwM
There are some wonderful poems in here, but overall I found this collection to be somewhat dull at times, and overly abstract at others. The central conceit of the book—to take words and phrases from the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms in order to highlight the dehumanization present in much of our military language, and in such a way that it re-humanizes the atrocities of war—is a brilliant one, though, so if you're at all interested, go for it.
There are some wonderful poems in here, but overall I found this collection to be somewhat dull at times, and overly abstract at others. The central conceit of the book—to take words and phrases from the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms in order to highlight the dehumanization present in much of our military language, and in such a way that it re-humanizes the atrocities of war—is a brilliant one, though, so if you're at all interested, go for it.
malorie's review
5.0
It took several poems for this collection to click for me. I read a brief description before delving in, but even understanding the concept behind the terms taken from the Military supplemental dictionary, I wasn't quite connecting with the writing initially. I am not sure when it happened but suddenly everything fell into place for me & I was crying.
I began the collection again and I found that the usage of the terms was really moving to me. It took these terms that are used to remove humanity from acts of war and applied them to humans(stories) in a way that really made me feel a deep and profound impact of raw humanity. I really felt this collection was beautiful, & I was moved to tears several times.
I began the collection again and I found that the usage of the terms was really moving to me. It took these terms that are used to remove humanity from acts of war and applied them to humans(stories) in a way that really made me feel a deep and profound impact of raw humanity. I really felt this collection was beautiful, & I was moved to tears several times.
spencernoble's review
Favorite Poems:
Desired Appreciation
Inspiration Point, Berkeley
Stateless Person
Mess Hall
Reaching Guantanamo
Drone
Desired Appreciation
Inspiration Point, Berkeley
Stateless Person
Mess Hall
Reaching Guantanamo
Drone
kawai's review
5.0
Brilliant.
Mixes terms from the United States Department of Defense's dictionary into a wide range of prose poems that render the other side of America's Mideast policy: drone strikes from the villager's view, war news gathered from afar, the ways in which politics infect pop culture and warp the casual, unaffected mind.
Although Sharif's poems occasionally drift far from the rhythmic form I prefer (for example, a set of imagined, censored letters to a Guantanamo prisoner), they work within the book's purpose as a whole, to render a specific reality beyond the confines of basic poetry form. In this way, the book reads similarly to Claudia Rankine's CITIZEN, although not quite as fluid in its dabbling among forms.
A gorgeous, necessary, timely work.
Mixes terms from the United States Department of Defense's dictionary into a wide range of prose poems that render the other side of America's Mideast policy: drone strikes from the villager's view, war news gathered from afar, the ways in which politics infect pop culture and warp the casual, unaffected mind.
Although Sharif's poems occasionally drift far from the rhythmic form I prefer (for example, a set of imagined, censored letters to a Guantanamo prisoner), they work within the book's purpose as a whole, to render a specific reality beyond the confines of basic poetry form. In this way, the book reads similarly to Claudia Rankine's CITIZEN, although not quite as fluid in its dabbling among forms.
A gorgeous, necessary, timely work.