When Science Collapses

by Christopher Hivner

Excerpt

Find another layer,
go deeper
to before I knew you,
to thoughts I had
as a young man,
pull up those bones,
crush them between your teeth
to bathe in the marrow,
find out
what you think
made me the way I am.
"Paleontology"

40 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2016

About the author

I write horror, humor and poetry. Sometimes I put it out into the world to see what people think. I've won a few contests for humor and poetry. I was nominated for a Rhysling in 2008 and a Pushcart in 2016.

If you read any of my writing, let me know what you think, good or bad.

Reviews

[Jim Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hivner uses science topics as metaphors, as in Cosmology, where the parental relationship collapses, leading to this: “my theory /of who I was /got re-written that day, /my solar system was reduced, /my orbit made tighter.”
Here is a longer sample from Paleontology: “Dig, dig, dig, /find every word /I've ever said, /uncover all my /shades of gray, /place them lovingly /in specimen boxes /labeled and categorized, /sorted in a basement room /where you can go /to pull them out /and relive, /rehash and revive /everything /you never liked about us.”
Again in String Theory, the metaphor is capturing regret: “Why can't it always /be this, /one moment connected to the next, /a soft chain /that we slip around our neck....”
Don’t think Hivner is all intellectual; instead read Experimental Physics, which is quite sensual with a fine surprise/reprise ending.
In Astronomy this: “Looking into the night sky /we see back in time, /the last look /I took of you /I tried to do the same.”
The final poem, Combustion, uses an engine as a metaphor for a relationship breakdown. You will be there in the argument and feel the frustration and anger.
Hopefully you’ll now have a sense of the voice and power of this collection. My personal guidelines, when doing any review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. I try to be consistent. Looking at these twenty-three poems you’ll see I was impressed by several of them. Five stars feels right.
(Note: this reviewer received a free copy of this book for an independent review. He is not associated with the author.)

[Sarah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goes down as another off my 2019 Bookworm Bingo Challenge - A book of poems.

Here you have a collection of poems with a difference. Almost using metaphors for science theories looking into the subjects of different human relationships. They are all told through the lens of science, looking into different scientific disciplines – e.g. Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, and so on. Each looking at different aspects of relationships from start to end within the scientific concepts created.

I liked some more than others and felt the scientific aspects of the poems gave them a different vibe. There were 33 in total, though a few were extended parts off one main title.

Here are a few that stood out for me:

Physics – wanting to relive and hold on to memories of loved ones passed on. Here you have someone wishing they could have them back but knowing that their memories of them are what you have to hold onto most. Don’t live in the past but hold onto its memories.

‘Time travel
is an illusion,
but my memories,
few as they are,
are real.’

String Theory – connecting things together and wondering why it can’t always be like this. The world and all its infinite moments being linked together one onto the next.

Astronomy – the vastness of space and looking at our way of interpreting what we can see or explain. How feeling connected to someone could seem like you are a planet warmed by their sun. Circling and needing each other, not knowing how long it would last but holding onto memories created all the same.

Combustion – from reading you get an idea of an engine just about to blow. One part isn’t right so the function isn’t working. In relation to a relationship it looks into cheating, or the possibility of someone cheating, and how just that one thought could make everything blow up.

It’s an interesting idea to take on human relationships in poems with a scientific vibe. You are breaking down concepts within the poems figuring out what they could mean for both subject types. If you like science and poetry then why not take a look.

I received a copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
https://readingnook84.wordpress.com/2...