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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
- 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.