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Reviewed by C. E. Laine
Dead White Poet
Dead White Poet packs a punch at least equal to Brett Hursey's previous work, SomeAssembly Required. Both collections should be read by every aspiring poet. This mix of grit and imagery is what any poet wants to accomplish, and Mr. Hursey does it with aplomb. He writes with wit and insight, making us think a little harder than we would like to.
In "Aquaman," he explores dating roles in very imaginative terms. "Another Useless Poem about the Moon" gives us an interesting view of the human condition ("indifferent satellite that orbits a world aflood with lonely bags of water"). Hursey breaks us down into our elemental components and gives us a thing or two to consider.
The image-laden "Hammocks" peeks into the life of a girl who is rebuilding herself. Here, Hursey shows a gentle, almost whimsical side as he describes her in terms of the weaving job she took on "until her hands were strong enough to make all her ends meet."
Hursey's disturbing portrait in "A Terrorist Attack in Oklahoma City" is one that will not fade. He leaves us with "down into the hard Oklahoma soil where he buries their daughter, making sure her fragile, half-finished face is turned towards Mecca."
The words "you're too Caucasian to sing the blues" set the tone for the title poem, "Dead White Poet." Here, Hursey demonstrates his trademark style with lines such as "Your fierce, Celtic forefathers would hike up their kilts and spit in your eye if they could see you sitting there, watching spin cycles bleach the color out of your khakis--" in this refreshingly witty poem.
"Dueling Hemispheres" is one of the most interesting poems I have read, detailing a man's conversation with himself, as he grapples with his options.
Yes… I expected good poetry from Mr. Hursey. I expected a jolt or two. I wanted my thought process challenged. I have not been disappointed.
C. E. Laine is the author of ALLEGORY and THE WEIGHT OF DUST.... www.Celaine.com.
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