Erasable Walls

by Lance Larsen

Erasable Walls is a series of elegant personal meditations on the always evolving self. These beautifully crafted poems show a degree of mastery that’s rare in a first book. Though quiet and subtle, Larsen’s voice is also nervy and truth-telling, with considerable cumulative power.

Genres: Poetry

66 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good things about Lance Larsen's poetry. He is so refreshing and satisfying to read.

[Andrea Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of not only studying Lance Larsen in my Poetry Capstone course, but listening to him read some of his works in-person as well. As a result, it was only natural that I should seek out some of his earlier work for myself. Lance Larsen’s Erasable Walls is a perfect encapsulation of the type of poet and man Larsen is–emotional, raw, careful, and intricate. His collection is a profound exploration of perception, family, and the human experience, drawing readers into vivid moments that resonate deep within them. Larsen’s work stands out through its focus on both the intimate and the universal, offering reflections that feel timeless yet deeply personal.
In poems like “Lips,” Larsen masterfully captures a child’s view of adulthood, detailing a mother’s superficial appearance and daily struggles with evocative language: “a smeared mouth” and “wet looking and waxy.” The child’s longing to “save” his mother introduces themes of responsibility and empathy, revealing the weight of growing up. Conversely, in “February 1922: My Father’s Conception,” Larsen reverses the lens, as an older man reflects on youth through the poignant image of chalked names as “erasable walls of the heart.” It’s beautiful but also bittersweet—this idea that memory and life are so fleeting. These shifting perspectives highlight how perception shapes memory and reality, encouraging readers to examine their own lives.
Larsen’s poetry balances simplicity and depth, elevating the mundane into profound reflections. His themes of family, faith, and the cycle of life and death are woven into narratives of fishing trips, moments of love, and existential musings. Unlike many contemporary poets, Larsen embraces family relationships as sources of connection and solace, even amid their challenges. Poems like “A Philanthropist Speaks to His Lawyer” delve into broader human connections, while others reflect on the transformative power of interaction, as seen in Larsen’s childhood reverence for small treasures.
Ultimately, Erasable Walls affirms the beauty in life’s struggles and connections. Through vivid imagery and resonant themes, Larsen invites readers to find meaning in the ordinary and hope in the fleeting, making this collection a delight for poetry enthusiasts seeking thought-provoking and heartfelt work. The whole collection feels like a reminder to find beauty in the ordinary and to see life’s challenges as part of what makes it meaningful. I walked away from Erasable Walls feeling like I’d been shown something important about being human. It’s the kind of poetry that stays with you long after you’ve read it.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is beautiful poetry, meaningful to real life.