New book review of Does Fish-God Know haiku collection by Alan Summers

composite image by Dawn Gorman: http://www.dawngorman.co.uk/WordsEarsPage.html

 

 

Review by Paul David Mena

I've been meaning to write to tell you how much I've enjoyed "Does Fish-God Know", but I keep reading it over and over again and getting a slightly different impression each time.

I already knew how talented a poet you were, but you've elevated the art to a whole new level.

Granted, I have a bias toward urban and non-nature themes, but your ability to use language to create abstract imagery is downright enviable.

I keep coming up with different "favorites", but this one is poignant in a "classic" sort of way:

unlacing the shoe
on his sole
mud from the gravesite

and I love the irresistible menace of this one:

morning moon
I think I met the man
who kills you

and this one is surreal, but we've all thought it:

don't trust the cat
her eyes green the earth
with anti-matter

Never mind that you've used "green" as a verb in a way that seems at once fresh and natural.

I could go on, but instead I'll read it again...

Thank you for writing such a vital work.

Paul David Mena, Boston USA

Does Fish-God Know
by Alan Summers

Available through Amazon at these weblinks:
http://area17.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/does-fish-god-know-haiku-collection-by.html

Reviewer: 
Paul David Mena

Paul David Mena's blog:
http://www.extraspecialbitter.com/

a member of the Metro West Renku Association:
http://www.haikupoet.com/mwra/




tenement landscapes: English language haiku by an American poet 

This is a collection of haiku written by American poet Paul David Mena, with the Japanese translation; a bilingual book.

"tenement landscapes" is Paul's first book in which he cut out and described the landscapes of New York and people's daily life seen through tenement houses, lightly and sometimes cynically.

The first edition of this book was published in September, 2001,  just after September 11.

The author says, "I was raw with emotion and frankly had a tough time writing about it."

But he was able to look at the event objectively and could finally write about it, New York, again.



We added a haiku which he wrote after the event, in December 2010, in this book. 
(Web Press Happa-no-Kofu, non-profit translation project and literary and art publisher since 2000, based in Japan.)
  
tenement landscapes: Links
http://www.amazon.com/tenement-landscapes-English-language-American/dp/1475298358

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/1475298358/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0&isremote=0

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