Negotiating With Objects

by Lisa M. Cole

Negotiating with Objects was the second-ever winner of the Sundress chapbook contest.

In Negotiating with Objects, Lisa M. Cole trains her focus on the human body with intensity and originality.

Genres: Poetry

18 pages, Unknown Binding

First published September 14, 2013

About the author

Lisa M. Cole is a full time writer who holds an MFA in poetry from the University of Arizona’s Creative Writing program. She is the author of 6 chapbooks, including "Living in a Lonely House" forthcoming from Dancing Girl Press.

Reviews

[Abby Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently was introduced to Cole's poetry through the Sundress Publications website, and I have been thoroughly impressed. I think what I enjoy most about her poetry is how she plays with language. This particular chapbook is replete with surprising and lovely turns of phrase and metaphor. She focuses on one idea or image in each poem, modeling each title as "After _____," so all of the poems seem like a complete whole without being limiting in their scope. I appreciate her ability to take one object and break it apart and explore it with metaphor. One of my favorite instances of this is in her poem, "After Asking," when it says

"Well, there it is again: that damn penny moon;
that dirty crystal ball; a pearl; a child’s flimsy kite
staggering drunk behind me."

It's visual as well as emotionally stirring, and I think her poetry sticks with you because it is willing to explore, to give insight, and to not have all of the answers--all of the things that good metaphor and good poetry should do.

It's a short yet deeply stirring chapbook, and I highly recommend giving it some of your time and attention!