A review by abandonlakes
System of Ghosts by Lindsay Tigue

3.0

In Chernobyl,
wolves have returned, roaming
the unpeopled streets. My friend
tells me this as if she knows
it's what I need to hear.

This poetry collection is one that builds; it wasn't exactly that I found myself bored in the first section, just wanting more. There was good poetry there, but nothing brilliant, nothing striking. I felt like I was waiting for something.

But as it went on, it gathered momentum. The poems held more weight, more depth. I was surprised, and amused, by the cleverness of "My Dad's Brother Called Every Year For Five Years Then Disappeared," a poem that could be read both down and across. I resonated very strongly with the poem quoted above, the third poem named "Abandoned Places" in the book.

I'm fond of buffalo imagery, and poetry that references history, and this was rife with both. It was quite reminiscent on Ada Limón's [b: Bright Dead Things|24945396|Bright Dead Things Poems|Ada Limon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1424307716s/24945396.jpg|44603834] in its exploration of places visited and customs performed and scores of mentions of animals.

Ultimately, I'd love to get this book in physical form, simply because that's how I prefer to read poetry, and this one is deserving of physical ownership.