In Between Angels and Animals

by Emily Cullen

Transitions of many kindsin relationships, in parenthood, in aging, and in the dizzying speed of digital and technological developments are at the heart of this new poetry collection by Emily Cullen.

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[John Mccullough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another of the "new Irish poet" books we are reading for selections for our annual Night with the Irish Poets here in Salt Lake City, the St Patrick's Day celebration kick-off event. Cullen's poems focus primarily on her pregnancy and post-pregnancy life with her son and family, as well as descriptions of Galway where she resides. Several of the poems are in Irish which I do not read so they are lost to me. We know that "to translate is to betray," but it would still be nice to see what she has written for those of us who are boobs in the Irish language. The poems are about love and life today. There are references to great Irish poets as well as modern devices - USB ports and other modern electronic devices. The poems are not over-intellectual puzzles so are understandable in at least 2 or 3 readings. And some are better read aloud rather than just read silently, but all are worth reading.

I enjoyed the poems and some will definitely be in our Irish Night program.

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I thought I came unstuck
a long time ago,
but still I find bits of larva
in my clothes and hair
each passing year;
pupa dreams entangled
in slimy film, their images
flicker against the screen
of this silky membrane,
like the fragile beating
of fledgling wings
jostling with hardening time.

Do I cling to my empty shell
or does is cleave to me?
Sometimes it is my proscenium
and I am on stage again,
waiting for my curtain call -
was I ever fledged at all?
The temptation to retreat
into the world within
this casing I have spun
is a constant pull.
It seems I'm half a caterpillar
in a greenroom that is windowless.
Where is the dream fulfiller?”

[Clara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection was disappointing. I’m a big fan of this publishing house; so when I found the book in the corner of a second hand book store I bought it. While the themes explored and the ideas in the collection were right up my alley, I felt the work lacked a certain level of refinement. It felt under edited, notes-app-poetry-esque.