Cheap Motels of my Youth--poems by George Bilgere

 Publisher: Rattle (January 1, 2024

Language: English

Paperback: 40 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1931307567

5 Stars

 

 

This book was a gift. The giver has my undying love! From the first poem, “Nine” which begins, “I am standing by the pop machine / at the gas station, drinking a root beer.” I was pulled in. I was nine, once, and loved root beer. I relate to this kid who brought back happy childhood memories.

 

His poem, “Daddy” really grabbed me. It begins, “Pallas Athena took my poetry course / one summer a few years back,” gave me chuckles. As a veteran of the Women’s Army Corps, I was somewhat familiar with Pallas Athena, and the mental image of her taking a poetry course under an alias, well it was a chuckle out loud moment.

 

“Insult to Injury” has one of my favorite lines ever, “…Holding a pistol / is like shaking hands / with death.” His description farther down the poem of shooting a book brought another laugh out loud.

 

This book holds many insights into how Bilgere saw his youth into adulthood, which he brings full circle with the last poem, “Salad.” It begins describing his parents in their back yard before he was born and ends with him repeating the scene in his own life.

 

These poems are accessible. No deep, hidden meaning (at least I didn’t see any), the language is understandable, the poems are easy to read, and I dare say, most if not all readers will find poems they connect with, that will bring long lost and possibly forgotten happy childhood memories in their lives, to the fore.

The Call Home by Susan Johnson

Publisher: Poetry Box (April 15, 2023

Language: English

Paperback: 42 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1956285345

5 Stars

 

 

I had the opportunity of hearing Susan Johnson read some poems from this book, and immediately ordered a copy. Usually, when I hear one or two poems from a book and then buy the book, I find those were the two poems I truly love, while the others are okay. As some of you may know, I have a nasty habit of dogearing the bottom corner of the page I love. For whatever reason I did not begin to do that while reading this book. I can honestly state my favorite poem in this book is all of them!

 

The poetry begins with “Along Scatter Creek” which begins with an epigraph of a Japanese Proverb, “The pebble in the brook secretly thinks itself a precious stone.” then goes into the poem, first line being: “And aren’t we each a pebble,” And with that first poem, first line, we are not only invited into these poems, we are expected to expand our lives, to partake of the non-calorie deserts brought to us.

 

Each poem in this book is a “precious stone” just waiting to be picked up, looked at with wonder and marvel at its beauty, then carefully put back in the creek to be found and marveled at a later date. Or put in your pocket to grace your dresser top.

 

The last poem, “Teach Me” is a call to Heron to teach Johnson, and each of us, the wonder he embodies, with the last line, “Teach me quiet consent to the call home.”

 

Johnson’s poetry is narrative, accessible, exquisite pictures painted with words. 

Persian Knots: Confessions of a Foreign Bride by R. P. Ferris

 ASIN: BOCWQRZM19

Publisher: R.P.Ferris (March 17, 2024)

Language: English

Paperback: 368 pages

ISBN-13: 979-8989909100

5 Stars

 

I had things to do yesterday. A workshop in the afternoon, a seminar in the early evening, my usual bedtime, &c. I made a gross error—I started reading this book, and about 6 hours later, I put it down. Truly, a one-sit read! Yes, I missed the workshop, the seminar, and my usual bedtime. The book is that good.

 

Persia and surrounding countries have long interested me—their culture, their foods, the lands. I now feel like I’ve been on a journey to a land, Iran, I will never have the opportunity to visit. I absolutely loved the descriptions of the country and people. I knew people who were in Iran when the Shah’s regime failed. They told me interesting stories, but Ferris brought that time  alive—the uncertainty, the fear, the emotional roller coaster. For a history buff, this book is a fascinating read. For someone who loves to travel to different lands with new and at times strange, cultures, foods, humor, this book is a calorie-free desert.

 

If you are an armchair adventurer, this book is for you. The only thing I could wish for, is that she’d put some recipes at the chapter ends. However, that one thing isn’t enough to knock the rating down from its 5 Star rating. ;-)