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mary_soon_lee's review
4.0
This Elgin-nominated chapbook is brief, containing only eleven poems, but there is treasure in it. I love the smooth simplicity of the poet's voice. There are lyrical phrases and humor, but nothing that the reader stumbles over. The poems range from parenting, to relationships, to the strange and fantastical, not to mention strange and fantastical relationship poems. Through most of the book, I was moved by the compassion of the narrator toward her characters.
At times I was uncertain what was happening. For instance, I began by thinking the title poem was about Persephone, or a Persephone-like figure, and ended up much less sure what was going on. This uncertainty perhaps diminished but didn't undo my pleasure in the poem. I particularly enjoyed the opening and closing stanzas. I love the end of the first stanza:
My two favorite poems were "Session" and "Intentions." The former could be interpreted as a woman describing a strange dream to her doctor, but it has authority and conviction, the sense of a truth about women and life and suffering and compassion. I love it.
I found "Intentions" haunting in the tragedy of its misunderstandings. Simple lines beautifully evoke the characters:
And:
Or:
I will be on the watch for other work by Shannon Connor Winward.
At times I was uncertain what was happening. For instance, I began by thinking the title poem was about Persephone, or a Persephone-like figure, and ended up much less sure what was going on. This uncertainty perhaps diminished but didn't undo my pleasure in the poem. I particularly enjoyed the opening and closing stanzas. I love the end of the first stanza:
and here you are,
huddled on your mildewed throne
speechless as a shrug.
My two favorite poems were "Session" and "Intentions." The former could be interpreted as a woman describing a strange dream to her doctor, but it has authority and conviction, the sense of a truth about women and life and suffering and compassion. I love it.
I found "Intentions" haunting in the tragedy of its misunderstandings. Simple lines beautifully evoke the characters:
she puts foundation on a face she has
wrung like a dishtowel
And:
She stills cleans up after you
your bowl in the sink
your spoon-fed life
Or:
fear is nothing more than
love turned inside out
it's what you don't realize
ridding yourself of choices
I will be on the watch for other work by Shannon Connor Winward.
divadiane's review
4.0
Oh, this gem is just too short!
A review on Amazing Stories will be forthcoming shortly.
A review on Amazing Stories will be forthcoming shortly.
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