Subways

by Joseph O. Legaspi

poetry chapbook

Genres: Poetry

33 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Dana Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, evocative, loving, Whitmanesque ode to the NYC subway system. It reads so fast and fleeting that I feel as though I am riding. Characters and moments flash past, never seen and only glimpsed. Some of the standout moments in the poetry: falling in love at first sight with a man in just a few subway stops, who then disembarks forever; watching a woman cry silently across from you, looking out on the pitch dark beyond the window; the early morning commute among the blue collar workers who really keep the city alive. I have ridden the NYC subway exactly one time, for just a few stops — others may appreciate this more based on greater familiarity, but this collection honors the cacophony I witnessed aboard.

I adore Legaspi’s poetry. His collection “Threshold” might be my favorite, ever. I read from it once a week, at least. In slowly making my way through the rest of his work, this chapbook is very different in style and tone, but it flexes new muscles and new skills. I can’t wait to read more!