2021-03-08 Publishers Weekly

BOOKLIFE.COM 79

POETRY

PushBack

Richard Rose | Atmosphere Press

120p, hardcover, $22.99, ISBN 978-1-

63649-559-0

Rose’s eloquent collection,

subtitled “Selected Poems of

Resistance,” touches on a wide

sweep of topics with a singular

sense of rhythm and musicality

that enriches even some of the

book’s most inaccessible pieces.

Though it’s presented as a

collection of the poet’s thoughts

over two years, PushBack also

contains “a lifetime’s poems, hums,/and somewhat spiritual

songs.” Rose is also a composer whose eighth opera, Monte &

Pinky, was performed at the Black History Museum of Virginia in

2018. That facility for music plays a major role here as the break
      lines dictate rhythm at and alliteration grants certain poems an
      unequivocal sense of melody: “The Tour” goes into factories
      “where whirr and whip and wince” combine to create;
      “Planning an Iranian War” happens “all pumped with purpose
      and pomp”; and “Threats” contemplates dreams and “dead-
      lines, and demands, and deals.”
      Through it all, at the center of everything, stands the “poet
      searching for a word.” Those words come, and they’re at times
      obscure, like coacervate and annular. When they’re clear,
      though, the message shines through, undiminished by the
      limitations imposed by the various rhyme schemes. The
      forceful “And Less Enthusiasm, Please:” declares “Howl if you
      wish./Even yelp. Publish./Scream at the mike. Brandish
      words. Strike/down with a slash/comma; tense. Smash/
      common sense; dullness/
      everywhere. Guess/what you
      meant. I won’t.”
      Rose’s poems about racism
      and war, thoughts and
      dreams, are accompanied by a
      series of amateurish drawings
      that add a personal touch and
      put faces to the individuals
      mentioned in the verse. At
      once difficult and personal as
      well as rhythmic and
      engaging, this collection
      walks a fine line between
      meanings only the poet will
      fully grasp and thoughts that
      communicate with clarity and
      power. This challenging
      collection will appeal to fans of
      poetry that touches on
      pressing issues and rewards
      careful reading.

POETRY
The Restructuring:
Who Are You?
J.L. Stafford | Bookbaby
90p, trade paperback, $12.99, ISBN 978-
1-0983-2373-8
One part self-help, one part
self-reflection, and one part
affirmation, Stafford’s raw,
engaging debut collection of
poetry delves deep into the
mind, heart, and soul. In direct,
even simple language, Stafford
challenges readers to dig into
their emotions and take a hard
look at what they’re truly feeling, writing “Being guided by the
fear that the hurt will not go away is how we practice avoid-
ance today.” The collection touches on themes of fear, trust,
acceptance, and hope in a style that pushes the reader,
through inquiry and encouragement, to face themselves.
Stafford makes clear that such self investigation need not be
harrowing, advising readers to “Examine yourself with
compassion.”
Stafford offers guidance on how to cope, how to center, and
how to focus on healing through embracing emotions head on.
At times, as Stafford reinforces these ideas, the language and
advice become repetitious, but readers will still take away sound
tips and memorable quotations to apply in moments of self-
doubt or when feeling overwhelmed. This collection would pair
well with readers who like to journal, as the questions woven
throughout (“Can you acknowledge the source of your discom-
fort?”) could serve as inspiring prompts.
The collection opens with a quotation from Thich Nhat Hanh,
the monk and poet, that sums
up what Stafford offers in the
pages to come: “People have a
hard time letting go of their
suffering. Out of fear of the
unknown, they prefer suffering
that is familiar.” Featuring
prose passages about self talk
and visualization, this collec-
tion strikes an inspiring and
uplifting tone throughout.
Though it lacks much of the
metaphor, imagery, and rich
language of most poetry collec-
tions, The Restructuring will
resonate with fans of the
increasingly popular style of
micropoetry favored by
Instagram poets due to the
length of the pieces, the conci-
sion of the ideas, and the free-
ness of form.

These poems of

resistance will

appeal to anyone

who enjoys chal-

lenging poetry with

great rhythm and

urgent beauty.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design & typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B

Production grades

Cover: A-

Design & typography: A

Illustrations: B

Editing: A

Marketing copy: A-

This encouraging

collection of poetry

urges readers

toward self-discov-

ery and doing the

homework—on

themselves.

PAID REVIEWS

Great for fans of

Amanda Lovelace,

R.H. Sin.

Great for fans of

Ted Hughes, Jay Parini.