Scald

by Denise Duhamel

When her “smart” phone keeps asking her to autocorrect her name to Denise Richards, Denise Duhamel begins a journey that takes on celebrity, sex, reproduction, and religion with her characteristic wit and insight. The poems in Scald engage feminism in two ways—committing to and battling with—various principles and beliefs.  Duhamel wrestles with foremothers and visionaries Shulamith Firestone, Andrea Dworkin, and Mary Daly as well as with pop culture figures such as Helen Reddy, Cyndi Lauper, and Bikini Kill.  In dialogue with artists and writers such as Catherine Opie, Susan Faludi, and Eve Ensler, Duhamel tries to understand our cultural moment.  While Duhamel’s Scald can burn, she has more importantly taken on the role of the ancient Scandinavian “Skald,” one who pays tribute to heroic deeds.  In Duhamel’s case, her heroes are also heroines.
 

Genres: Poetry, Feminism

112 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2017

About the author

Denise Duhamel's most recent books are Ka-Ching! (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2009), Two and Two (Pittsburgh, 2005), Mille et un Sentiments (Firewheel, 2005); Queen for a Day: Selected and New Poems (Pittsburgh, 2001); The Star-Spangled Banner (Southern Illinois University Press, 1999); and Kinky (Orchises Press, 1997). A bilingual edition of her poems, Afortunada de mí (Lucky Me), translated into Spanish by Dagmar Buchholz and David Gonzalez, came out in 2008 with Bartleby Editores (Madrid.) A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, she is an associate professor at Florida International University in Miami.

Reviews

[C. Varn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duhamel's Scald continues her feminist poetics on popular culture in pantoums and villanelles: the contract between the repetitive forms and her references to vaginal rejuvenation surgery and Lady Gaga can feel a bit jarring, but the humor paired with statements wrestling second-wave feminism's through Shulamith Firestone, Andrea Dworkin, and Mary Daly works very well. For something so formal and high concept, Duhamel is remarkably easy reading and rewarding. That said, there are some moments are a bit rigidly didactic, such as "Darwinian Pantoum," "Extreme Villanelle," and "Safety Pantoum," but even these poems are effective as didactic poetry. Some really excellent poems included are "Fornicating," "Rated R," "Scalding Cauldron" and "What Child is This."

[Tara Betts]

This book is intriguing because it's divided into three sections, and each one is dedicated to a late feminist thinker, namely Shulamith Firestone, Andrea Dworkin, and Mary Daly. Throughout the book, there are pantoums and villanelles about women's bodies and the environments that they inhabit.

[Emily Rems · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read as much poetry as I used to, but I always drop everything and dive in when Denise Duhamel comes out with something new. "Scald" is just another example of her mastery. And the fact that the collection revolves around feminism makes it an especially welcome read during these times when women's rights are so imperiled.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chock-full of pantoums and villanelles, Scald proves that Denise Duhamel is unafraid to address any topic, however crude. I so admire her wittiness and wry humor. Her feminism and environmentalism are central to this volume, and hers is a voice that demands (and deserves) to be at the table. I am glad to know Denise Duhamel and to be mentored by her.

[Frida · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Whatever happened to those Riot Grrrls
happened to us, too. Revolution swirled
with sugar in blenders. We devoured
the stuff, sweetened by the mainstream Spice Girls.
Women do crunches, pushups and leg curls
so they’ll look good at cocktail hour.
Whatever happened to those Riot Grrrls
who kicked open that door for the Spice Girls?"
(Bikini Kill Villanelle)

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cool, badass feminist casserole of poems that ties in critique, pop culture, religion, sex, and more. I am not very easily drawn to poetry that utilizes form, but I love what Duhamel does with pantoums and villanelles and braiding in this collection.

[Richard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Duhamel may be setting herself up as an important poet of our age, and she may be heralded as such, if not already. There have been a couple public skirmishes with controversy, and her poetry, in this book especially, that have pop references and current events, and clearly she has fine, intelligent things about patriarchy and the power structure that is thankfully under fire. But these elements felt a little too crammed into the poetry for me. A poem here, for example, that begins and ends on Lady Gaga felt quite obligatory and not highly central to the poem itself, and all too often I kept having the same reaction. These poems don't read like essays, but they left me more with the feeling of having gone through the experience of an essay than a poem.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give this a bit of a higher rating, as I basically agree with most of the sentiments espoused in this collection of poetry that centers on feminism and ties together the lives of Shulamith Firestone, Andrea Dworkin, and Mary Daly. The issue for me was that many of the poems felt a bit too didactic. That said, they can still be quite playful and entertaining.

[Mark Flanigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book of poems: accessible but graceful; thought provoking but not too strident. "Fornicating" is one of the best poems I have ever read in terms of boldness and honesty. I am not a tremendous fan of poetry that utilizes forms, which this book often does, yet even many such poems in Scald scaled that wall.

[Emily Shearer · Rating 1 out of 5]

My one star does not reflect the quality of this writing or my prediction as to how much others might like it. It is feminist poetry, paying tribute to foremothers in the field. The language, by its intention and necessity to "scald" is not as lyrical as I am usually drawn to, but that doesn't make it less effective or important.

[Katy Cesarotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking and complex, these poems explore the complicated relationships between the legacy of second-wave feminism, the environment, the military, and intersectionality with lovely language. "Fornicating" and "Rated R" are especially arresting. Considering getting the line "a generalized salty female existence" tattooed on my forehead.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting reflection on what it means to be a woman. Personally, I thought there were too many pantoum poems. The form can sometimes be too restricting and repetitive. Overall, an enjoyable collection, but I would have liked to see more variety in the form.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tribute and ode to feminist principles. Duhamel is the queen of the pantoum, and is not afraid to dig deep into issues. I will be attending a poetry workshop with her soon, and I’m looking forward to what she has to teach.

[isa · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this feminist jewel SO much

"i cursed all my dates. i buttoned my jeans."
"blinking pink neon kink"
"what makes us do it, relive instead of live..."
"he wore his mother like a crown"

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't much of a review... I just really loved this collection and thought it was wonderful. It truly moved me.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful and at times funny mediation on privilege, feminism, womanhood, violence, and the environment, in many senses of the words. Creative with form and repetition

[Gregory Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! Humanity 101 got me.