Congratulations to Jon Michael Willey and Carole Mathys on the publication of their collection of poetry, a collection I've just had the privilege and joy of reading and am honoured to recommend.
The poems in this collection stir the heart and provoke the mind, at times indeed challenge understanding but never to the extent that they are inaccessible or remote - they speak to me in that special way all good writing does - and each work is worthy of its place here.
In Jon's poem dedicated to Gene Williamson, 'he speaks to gulls'
the writing is simply beautiful and the final two lines
'a statesman conversing with recalcitrant gulls
surely peace will wander freely from that place'
touch me deeply.
The opening stanza of 'a parade of shadows'
'aligned like so many old boots
side by side up and down halls
as if surpluses of discarded objects
rolled out each day on cue'
sets the mood and tone for a work of great resonance and feeling; there is such understanding of the frailty and impermanence of the human condition in this poem and unsurpassed compassion.
'the roaring twenties' captures the
vigour and atmosphere of 'an explosive time...the age of intolerance and contradiction' and images of the people - Capone, Ness and 'sassy flappers' among them - and places such
as speakeasies, dances like the Charleston and Henry Ford's Model T
come together to create the time
vividly; this poem I'll return to again and again, a keeper as we say on AD.
But it's best you discover this volume for yourself rather than just taking my word for it. It's certainly worth your investment, time and effort.
Again, to Jon and Carole,
CONGRATULATIONS!
Poets' Designs On Parchment Moons
ISBN 978-1-4701-7532-0
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