Sofia Perez, Prudence Brooks, Nicholas Grooms
Let me tell you about three books I love by Sofia Perez, Prudence Brooks, & Nicholas Grooms!
More information about the reviewer: Rachel Turney is a former art reviewer for New City Magazine. She is currently the writer in residence at NKollectiv and hosts the Trident Women’s Writing Group. She runs Poetry (in Brief), an online reading series and magazine. She is a staff writer for Bareback Magazine and a poetry reader for The Los Angeles Review. She is the author of two books: Record Player Life (the b-side) and Retired Wannabe Club Kid. Sign up for her newsletter and learn more on the website.
Ombre En Feu - Burning Shadows by Sofia Perez
with translation by Olivia Lebeau & Erwin A. Perez
The Poetry Lighthouse
Three gorgeous lines from an absolutely stunning book!
l’encre hemophile qui bat … the hemophiliac ink that pulses
Her stream of stars/ slip like tears/ on the cheeks of the night.
un flot de baisers fous/ qui court sur mon corps … a flood of reckless kisses/ running over my silhouette.
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Saved by Prudence Brooks
Arcana Poetry Press
What/Who is Prudence? by Rachel Turney
Prudence is fragile. In “The Bipolar Speaks” Prudence presents her fragile state as that of a houseplant that can die for any myriad of reasons - through lack of care or even if “the wind blew in the wrong direction.”
Prudence is abused and hungry. In “Portrait of an Ungrateful Adoptee” Prudence compares physical abuse to hunger in a gripping, poignant, and sad way.
Prudence is the editor. In “The Editor” Prudence tells the story of her life, but ends with hope, as if pen marks and crossed out portions can be erased. “The editor can still do anything.”
Prudence is a Catholic. In “Catholic” Prudence shares what the church can take and ignore. “A parish is the oldest type of prison,/ and religion stunts your growth…”
Prudence is saved. In “Saved” Prudence finds herself in the unwanted reclaimed. Prudence finds that salvation “is letting go.”
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Estranged Things by Nicholas Grooms
Crying Heart Press
Just as the title suggests, this collection is about the loss of relationships. I think this is something poets will relate to as many of us came to the page out of pain. Nicholas feels that pain through metaphor throughout this collection.
Some of my favorite ideas he presents are:
a dog escaping a fence that has been neglected in “The Most Ironic Time to Adopt a Dog”
relationships as dead flowers in “More Dead Flowers”
messages as “a swirling mirage of catastrophe” or tie-dye in “Tye Dye”
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A note from Rachel: I am looking for folks to review my two books with small presses, too! Record Player Life (the b-side) and Retired Wannabe Club Kid. If you can write a review for me and help spread the word about my collections, please email me for a free digital review copy. Thank you. The books are also for sale on my website. turneytalks@gmail.com
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