“The Sensual World Re-emerges: Poems” by Eleanor Lerman— Lyrical Reading
Lerman, Eleanor. “The Sensual World Re-emerges: Poems”, Sarabande Books, 2010.
Lyrical Reading
Amos Lassen
I am so happy that there has been resurgence in poetry and that more and more poets are publishing. Eleanor Lerman grabs the reader, possibly because she writes using the second person and not just inviting us but yanking us to come and enjoy her work. Her words are powerful and laced with humor and the themes are those that we face—aging and wisdom and how the two interact. The human condition is visible throughout and while she might appear cynical there is a reason for this. But there is hope here and that rises above everything else.
What the poems do is give us a lesson in how to live even though she states that life only gives us rules but does not explain why they are important and what is to be gained by following them. Life is full of tricks and poetry soothes the road for us as we travel upon it. While life may not provide answers, poetry can and does as it heals the way we feel and comforts us.
I think the finest compliment I can give is that here is poetry for those who think they do not like poetry. It is complex and simple, light and dark but above all it is honest.
- Posted in: GLBT poetry
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