It’s been a busy month for me. Sometimes there is drought: work, work, work, and little to show for it. Sometimes there is a Drizzle. And occasionally a refreshing, sudden-but-brief rain. Your work shines for a moment. And of course, that’s it. A moment. I say anyway: I love writing, reading, editing, publishing and reviewing poetry. The rewards are more intrinsic than extrinsic. Aw shucks, poetry folks, y’all know what I’m talking about.

I’ve published several book reviews and some of my own poems have been published over the past month. There are a couple of new reviews of chapbooks over at The Poetry Cafe and several at other venues including The Rumpus, Drizzle Review, & Psaltery and Lyre. An interview with Lauren Davis was published at Empty Mirrors. And our own Trish Hopkinson interviewed me about The Poetry Cafe on her site! I’m happy to share!

My own poems are up at Lavender Review and A Minor Magazine.

THE POETRY CAFE

I’m writing reviews of chapbooks at The Poetry Cafe as fast as I can. But I’m thrilled to say that I have reviews coming in from two other poetry reviewers!

In May, I published reviews of Refugia by Kristin Berger (Persian Pony Press, 2019 and FEED, by Emily Mohn-Slate (Seven Kitchens Press, 2019).

Emily Mohn-Slate’s chapbook, Feed, unpacks the strains and tensions that overwhelm mothers of infants: anxiety, forgetfulness, desperation, loss of identity, guilt, hypervigilance. 

Berger’s skill as a poet is in surprising language and a constant turning towards or leaning into an unexpected metaphor.  This craft comprises the poems, not just elements of them. 

Please contact me if you would like to review one of the chapbooks sitting on my shelf waiting for a review. You will find them here. And buy chapbooks! And when you do, buy them from the independent small presses that publish them. Support small presses!

REVIEWS

Tanya Olson’s almost indescribable new release, STAY (YesYes Press) is up at The Rumpus. You may wish to read this deep probe into the American psyche.

There is an ever-present awareness of danger and wrongness here, matched equally with kindheartedness and deadpan humor. 

My review of Mary Peelen’s Quantum Heresies (Glass Lyre Press, 2019) is at Psaltery and Lyre. If you don’t already follow this wonderful online journal, you may wish to check out their gorgeous site.

The strange logic of Peelen’s work confirms my own understanding of subjectivity.

My review of Jessica Jacob’s Take Me With You, Wherever You’re Going (Fourway Books, 2019) was published at Drizzle, which is a great review site to follow.

Some of Jacobs’ most lyrical and sensual writing is about lesbian sex

Wishing everyone a productive and safe June!