Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Microreviews: Bryan Borland's "Less Fortunate Pirates" and Aaron Smith's "Appetite"

Generosity can be an unfortunate trait in the poetry world.  One of the most exciting new presses, Sibling Rivalry Press, was created by Bryan Borland; he's already brought so much attention to poets like first book authors such as Saeed Jones and Matthew Hittinger as well as veterans like Michael Klein.  In his constant drive to help others, his own new sincere, edifying book, Less Unfortunate Pirates: Poems from the First Year Without My Father, has somehow slipped through the cracks.  It's an elegy to his father.  The story behind his press is simple: Bryan wanted a published book of poetry, asked his father, who gave him $1000 to do so.  This money was used to put his own book in the world, and, by extension, the press.  One could view Borland's book as not only touching remembrances of his father, but also, a poetic explanation of what motivated him to establish his own reputation as a poet and community leader.  Unashamedly straightforward, Borland declares in one of his best poems "The Day I Find My Father's Lost Wedding Ring": "I slide it on and it fits./Suddenly we are linked by numbers/and gold, size-seven fingers and thirty years..."  One cannot help but see this conflation of identities as a precursor to the exchange that resulted in his own vibrant career.  Very rarely does Borland stretch the pirate conceit too much, and even when he does, it feels almost justified; he's trying to make sense of his own confusing relationship with his father through forcing it into a unified narrative.  He's aware of the inherent awkwardnesses of such a project.  As he quite effectively writes, "I refuse to keep you in boxes/or hanging in guestroom closets the way/my mother holds onto my brother,/but isn't it the same that I pour your ashes/into unmetered verse?"

Bryan Borland's Less Fortunate Pirates is available through Sibling Rivalry Press.


                                                ***


In a way, Aaron Smith's second full-length book collection, Appetite, is essentially a repackaging of his very fun, wonderful chapbook Men in Groups.  This choice to make Appetite an extension of the chapbook rather than create something entirely new yields a limitation or two.  A few of  his additions feel dated: "The Problem with Straight People (What We Say Behind Your Back)," for instance, deals with gay rage, detailing the almost comic transcriptions of his friend's thoughts: "Brandon on the phone: We should start straight bashing.  Find an asshole straight guy and beat him with a bad,/ fuck him in the ass."  The centerpiece of the book consists of a prosaic litany of his favorite parts of movies.  It lasts eight pages; he sometimes relies on the easy joke: "I love the part in Watchmen where Patrick Wilson is naked.  I love the part in Hard Candy where Patrick Wilson is naked.  I love the part in Passengers where Patrick Wilson is naked."  The most memorable ones contain, to his credit, the most gutsy, depraved humor: "My friend Matt admitted he jerked off to the rape scene in The Accused: 'I knew she wasn't really being raped, and that one guy had a nice ass.'"  The flat deadpan here works great.  There are no apologies; Smith is good at being thoughtless and mean.  It's his self-conscious that can from time to time deflate his own comic set-ups.  A few of best poems here do come from the chapbook: "Diesel Clothing Ad (Naked Man with Messenger Bag)), "Fat Ass," and "Hurtful."  With this book-length collection, you have to hunt around for them a little bit, rather than in the chapbook, they would pop up almost immediately.  There's nothing anorexic about a chapbook; it can be a beautiful thing in and of itself.

Aaron Smith's Appetite is available through University of Pittsburgh Press.


9 comments:

  1. Generosity is an invaluable feature in life that many people lack. Many people are mean and do not wish to share anything to others, especially to the most deserving people. When a father sacrifices all he has for his son, it shows the bond that cannot be broken between a father and a son. I also blog on topical issues and write critical product reviews

    ReplyDelete
  2. Amazing post with lots of informative and useful and amazing content. Well written and done!! Thanks for sharing keep posting

    ReplyDelete
  3. What an excellent blog you have published . Liked and admired your shared . Clipping Path | Remove White Background | Product Photo Editing

    ReplyDelete
  4. ICP is an image editing service provider company, if you need any kind of photo editing like clipping path, image masking, photo retouching feel free to contact with us.

    ReplyDelete
  5. No matter what age we belong to or what we do. if we are students trying to score well in exams or a professional trying hard that pending promotion or just an adult who is fighting hard to fight dementia, the idea of taking a pull to boost our brain functioning seems little appealing. Thus today it is no surprise that the use of the smart drug also known as nootropics is on a rise. In the past, the term nootropic was used to refer to chemicals that met certain criteria. However, today the term nootropic is used for any kind of natural or synthetic compound that affects the brain functioning of a person positively. The smart drug that is advancing over time is Nuvigil smart drug. People wishing to get this smart drug can buy Nuvigil online.
    Buy Nuvigil online

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, pretty cool tips. I really appreciate your post. I definitely visit this blog again
    Remove White Background

    ReplyDelete

  7. Wonderful Post. I appreciate your blog. Well done for shared. Really useful resource! Thanks for sharing.
    Clipping Path | Background Removal Services | Car Photo Editing | Neck joint Services | Drop Shadow Services

    ReplyDelete