O Body

by Dan "Sully" Sullivan

A collection of moving and tender poems that delves into questions of masculinity, fatherhood, home, and learning to live in and love one’s own body.

In his second full-length poetry collection, Chicago-born poet Dan “Sully” Sullivan considers the male body—its momentum and privilege when moving through the world, but also its softness and vulnerability. As the poems unfold and questions unravel, the book challenges wider social systems that uphold patriarchal notions of masculinity, seeking to achieve a new register of compassion, of self-love.

O Body is also a migration narrative, navigating the physical distances between cities—the speaker’s movement between Chicago and his new home in Bloomington—and beyond that, the expansive, immeasurable distances within the self. Cityscapes come alive on the page and relationships bloom and deepen as Sully explores love, fatherhood, and family; here, traditional assumptions regarding masculinity and beauty are called into question through the speaker’s tenderhearted wondering.

As more and more people awaken to the realization that the patriarchy oppresses people of all genders, Sully’s work in O Body offers a much-needed narrative of that shifting perspective. This deeply self-aware and big-hearted book holds space for reflecting on one’s physical body and the complex relationship between the two as well as their intricate and often fraught connections to the wider community and the places we call home.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Carrie Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messed up that my birthday coincides with national celery month

Actually I googled it and it’s in March

[Corie Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a woman who loves poetry, I found "O Body" by Dan "Sully" Sullivan deeply resonant. Though it explores masculinity, fatherhood, and the male experience, the emotional depth and vulnerability Sullivan portrays connected with me. His reflections on body, identity, and societal expectations transcend gender, offering insights into self-love and compassion that I, too, have grappled with. This collection's tender exploration of human experience and its call for a more inclusive understanding of masculinity spoke to me on a universal level, reminding me of poetry's power to bridge personal and collective narratives.

Adding to my appreciation for "O Body," his approach, blending literal and metaphysical elements through split sentences, presents a nuanced layer of complexity. This stylistic choice enriches the text, demanding a deeper engagement to fully grasp the intertwined themes of physicality and existential reflection. Sullivan's technique underscores the poetry's exploration of identity and self-perception, inviting readers to navigate the intricate dance between the concrete and the abstract, thereby enhancing the connection to his work on a more introspective level.

[Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant look at what it means to be a man struggling with internal and external forces. These poems make you feel as though you are walking the streets of Chicago, looking at the same things and tasting the same things as Dan Sullivan. A beautiful and deep addition to the amazing poetry collections published by Haymarket--who never disappoints!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of poems

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful & soul bearing collection of poems. I have picked this up multiple times since reading to seek out little phrases that touched me deeply!