This is not a sky

by Jessica Piazza

Poetry. Jessica Piazza's THIS IS NOT A SKY begins with the seed of ekphrastic literature, then yawns, then stretches, then bursts beyond those bounds. Each of these 18 poems borrows a title from the greats—from Raphael and Turner to Warhol and Twombly—and through imagined narratives, takes the reader both inside and outside the paintings. In Piazza's capable hands, the original art works serve as launch pads, and the poems are glorious departures. Through the guided commentary of an italicized speaker (sometimes commentator, sometimes companion, sometimes voyeur), we are taken to a long hallway wherein the reader wanders from room to room, peeking inside. Behind one door, "The ladies wore boas and nothing else; the beautiful men repeated themselves," and behind another, "You float, no floors, no doors in the office walls, hidden heavy hook of neck, crook of knee." THIS IS NOT A SKY is a multi-faceted sensory experience; Piazza employs QR codes in tandem with each poem to allow the reader access to the original work of art alongside its poetic departure. Through her finely tuned ear for carefully considered formal metrical structures and rhyme, Piazza merges music, painting, and poetry to breathe new, strange, and modern life into the grand themes that have long given art its universality: death, love, religion, and truth.

Genres: Poetry, Art

38 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2014

About the author

Jessica Piazza is the author of three poetry collections: "Interrobang" (Red Hen Press), "This is not a sky" (Black Lawrence Press) and, with Heather Aimee O'Neill, "Obliterations" (Red Hen Press) and a children’s book, “Olivia Otter Builds Her Raft” (FemInEm 2018). Originally from Brooklyn, NY, she holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and English Literature from the University of Southern California, an M.A. in English Literature /Creative Writing from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University. She is co-founder of Gold Line Press and Bat City Review, and curated the Poetry Has Value blog, which explored the intersections of poetry, money and worth. You can learn more and read her work at www.jessicapiazza.com.

Reviews

[Cathy Olliffe-Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may not be a sky, but it is a beautiful collection of poetry. Author Piazza has a deft and earthy sensibility and her unique style is a joy to read. Highly recommend.

[Alesa Bernat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Piazza's This is Not a Sky is such a fluid read that you often forget the pieces are based in the ekphrastic style. Each piece includes a QR code that leads you to the famous works of art that inspired the poem. Piazza's book is worth revisiting again and again.