As always, do not let my star count override your judgement of content. This is a wide-ranging collection of poetry. More on the stars, counting, and my rating challenges later. Let’s get to Pacheco’s work.
Some of the pieces are quite literary. I recommend readers look up everything, e.g. ‘nevus,’ that you’re not absolutely certain of.
Relationships abound in this work; in the poem Geography we have a sustained metaphor covering a failing interaction. Again in Last Supper: “We face each other /eating our lean cuisine /that tastes a lot like crow /or our own words.” and in Revisions this: “in my saga, l grow /more heroic, able & smart /and you deplete /like used uranium.” There is even a personal relationship disaster in Collision Course.
If you’re looking for a cosmological question, you’ll find it in Murmur: “What is the secret name of God? /that dark unspoken sound /that will reverse the Big Bang...”
There are several poems dedicated to famous artists, including Matisse, Chagall, Max Beckman, De Kooning, Paul Klee, Degas, and the marvellous one titled To Matisse.
Some of the longer poems are literary and complex, as is Duel. Some of them are scary, as in Vietnam Hero.
If you’re looking for social commentary, turn to Rehearsal: both cynical and observant.
If you’re looking for a fascinating portrait, turn to For B., which begins thus: “I have seen men clamor at your feet /scrambling like crazed ants /at an opulent picnic /searching out the perfect morsel.”
Point of Information is a personal favourite here, with lines like these: “a break up means /you go your way /and I go mine /no longer crossed /intersections of delight /or miserable moments /resurrecting old fears” and ends with “I don't need to know /the new color of your hair /or observe with care /that you lost some weight /I lost some too— you.” It is impossible to deliver the force of this poem, even with extensive quotes.
Invoking the Muse is another favourite, apparently light-hearted, but actually not.
To say that the images are fresh is perhaps an understatement; they almost verge on the bizarre, as in Lazarus Resting, where we find this: “ambling awkwardly attached /to your entourage of I.V. bottles /gagged on the odor of sterile alcohol /which smothers the air like a friendly aunt.”
Another sustained metaphor occurs in Stones: “my word skim across/ ...../.... silver surface of a pond.” To quote more would spoil the surprise.
While some of the poems are complex, I found some of these rewarding on subsequent readings, What’s Left being an example of this.
Given all this, how do I come up with four stars? My personal guidelines, when doing an ‘official’ KBR review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. Pacheco is one tough, powerful poet. Four stars it is, and highly recommended.
Jim Bennett, Kindle Book Review Team member.
(Note: this reviewer received a free copy of this book for an independent review. He is not associated with the author or Amazon.)
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