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A review by adrianasturalvarez
Killing Kanoko / Wild Grass on the Riverbank by Hiromi Itō
4.0
My internal opinion meter shifted dramatically over the course of this edition. Having never heard of Ito before I wasn't sure what to expect. The first book, Killing Kanoko, had a few striking lines for me. One passage I particularly liked:
I mean if you have kids you feel all that in your bones. Liberating as it may feel to give voice to the Freudian id during early parenting, Killing Kanoko (the whole book) felt very much like a libretto without melody on my first reading. I couldn't help thinking I was missing out not seeing Ito Hiromi perform these poems. After all she is widely considered a shaman of feminist poetry. I felt I was missing too much to appreciate the work.
So heading into Wild Grass on the Riverbank I wasn't full of anticipation.
THAT CHANGED.
I'm not sure if spending time with Ito's voice eventually put me in sync with her project and gave me necessary context to receive her work or if Wild Grass on the Riverbank articulated her project in a way that resonated with me more profoundly than the earlier poems but my opinion changed very rapidly. Not only were the narrative poems shocking and poignant and sad and beautiful but they drove me back to Killing Kanoko. The artist delivered within me, which is the best kind of reading experience.
I would be remiss not to mention how wonderful this Tilted Axis edition is to read. They really produced a fantastic book. Jeffrey Angles' introduction and translation notes were a fantastic companion and I loved the guide to plants mentioned in the book. As someone who was encountering Ito Hiromi for the first time I felt in very good hands and I recommend this edition to anyone curious about her work.
Kanoko eats my time
Kanoko pilfers my nutrients
Kanoko threatens my appetite
Kanoko pulls out my hair
Kanoko forces me to deal with her shit
I mean if you have kids you feel all that in your bones. Liberating as it may feel to give voice to the Freudian id during early parenting, Killing Kanoko (the whole book) felt very much like a libretto without melody on my first reading. I couldn't help thinking I was missing out not seeing Ito Hiromi perform these poems. After all she is widely considered a shaman of feminist poetry. I felt I was missing too much to appreciate the work.
So heading into Wild Grass on the Riverbank I wasn't full of anticipation.
THAT CHANGED.
I'm not sure if spending time with Ito's voice eventually put me in sync with her project and gave me necessary context to receive her work or if Wild Grass on the Riverbank articulated her project in a way that resonated with me more profoundly than the earlier poems but my opinion changed very rapidly. Not only were the narrative poems shocking and poignant and sad and beautiful but they drove me back to Killing Kanoko. The artist delivered within me, which is the best kind of reading experience.
I would be remiss not to mention how wonderful this Tilted Axis edition is to read. They really produced a fantastic book. Jeffrey Angles' introduction and translation notes were a fantastic companion and I loved the guide to plants mentioned in the book. As someone who was encountering Ito Hiromi for the first time I felt in very good hands and I recommend this edition to anyone curious about her work.