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le_lobey's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
This collection had some real standout poems, both from Marina Tsvetaeva and Nina Kossman. Tsvetaeva is so precise — and concise — in her poems. I worry that something was lost in translation. Perhaps my favorite poetry lies at a different level of specificity. Often it felt like the poems were either so abstract that I couldn't follow what they meant, or they were too literal and the word choice felt ham-fisted. Of hers, I really liked "It Smelled of England" (p. 34) "God" (p. 52) and "Sahara" (p. 74). I think "I am paper to your pen..." (p. 61) would make a great anthem. Might try composing something.
Nina Kossman's poems connected with me more. Her poems "Psyche" "Orpheus" "Awake in Me" "I will grow myself quiet leaves" and "Time of Return" were all stand outs.
Kossman's poem that effected me most was "Denial won't help." The horror of it was so moving, and incredibly effective. The gender dynamic wasn't overstated, and I loved the way that the woman's perspective on her humanity was so obvious. It made the ending so surprising and shocking, and sad. The line "a swallow with a woman's face and swallow's soul" really got me. This poem blew me away.
*Purchased at Troubled Sleep in Park Slope on the recommendation of a bookseller*
Nina Kossman's poems connected with me more. Her poems "Psyche" "Orpheus" "Awake in Me" "I will grow myself quiet leaves" and "Time of Return" were all stand outs.
Kossman's poem that effected me most was "Denial won't help." The horror of it was so moving, and incredibly effective. The gender dynamic wasn't overstated, and I loved the way that the woman's perspective on her humanity was so obvious. It made the ending so surprising and shocking, and sad. The line "a swallow with a woman's face and swallow's soul" really got me. This poem blew me away.
*Purchased at Troubled Sleep in Park Slope on the recommendation of a bookseller*
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