Negative Positive
Title: Intense imagery stings, startles, and soothes....
Review: The brilliant contrasts found in John Amen's poetry are enhanced by his abilities as artist and musician. His words colorfully express the surreal and bitter, the heartwarming and expansive, all with a distinctive twist. Memorable lines stayed with me after this book had been set aside:"this garden of wilted grace""the poison ivy of hollow hours""the ash and ember of our days""dogwood blossoms throb in the twilight"Amen shares the joy of love, the sorrow of rejection. His use of imagery ranges from humorous to haunting to delightful:Cicadas swarm like tourists; frogsconspire behind every blade of grass.The music of the iris is hard to withstand;its purple song claws at my heart;Amen fans are sure to relish this latest book. Poetry lovers unfamiliar with his work are in for an intense experience.
Is the review positive or negative? 