Gather the Night: Poems

by Katherine DiBella Seluja

This debut collection reads like an elegy, not just for the author's brother Lou, stricken with schizophrenia, but for all families affected by mental illness. Through multiple personae and a variety of styles, Seluja offers a gritty authenticity and empathy to the subjects and themes. These poems grieve for a world of the lost while extending solace to those who remain and remember.

Genres: Poetry

66 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2018

Reviews

[Nod Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like hanging a painting well, writing good poetry is a skill I don’t possess, but one I recognise and appreciate when I encounter it. DiBella Sejula, or Katarina, as I came to know her when we met at Nancy Stohlman’s flash fiction retreat in Casperia, Italy last September, makes good poetry. Great poetry, in fact.

Katarina made a gift of her beautiful book when we met and bonded in Italy. I have only come to read it now, four months later.

“Gather the Night” is a collection of work inspired by the poet’s late brother Lou, who suffered from a debilitating mental illness. DiBella Seluja also draws on her experience as a healthcare worker for many of the pieces, an aspect I identify with.

I found myself drawn most to poems that included a strong story-telling element. I suppose this is because I am not adept at unravelling poetry that incorporates multiple layers of metaphor. However, I recognised the author’s mastery with crafting words in all the pieces. She knows have to paint with language. The reader can see this poet cares about the patterns sounds make.

The book is split into four sections, each headed by a titular poem.

I enjoyed “Neighbourhood Of”, a piece that resembles flash fiction of the long breathless sentence variety. I also identified with the subject matter, where the narrator absent-mindedly loses themselves in a strange environment. I loved the imagery in “She Wore Opals at Her Neck”, which demonstrates a musician’s love for his instrument. The visually rich descriptions in “Ice Candle Recipe” also appealed. “For Webster’s Next Edition”, a short piece using dictionary definitions with a stark ending, was particularly poignant.

“The Psychiatrist Said” touches on what the relationship between Lou and those who treated him might have been like. I admired the wordplay with different uses of “cord” in “When Your Son Is Diagnosed in the 1960s”. Musical terminology is married to aspects of mental illness in “Schizophrenia”.

“Jorge Jumped Three Times” is another fast-flowing flash-like piece with strong story-telling elements, while “Discharge”, a longer piece, also has a strong narrative, while maintaining powerful poetic imagery.

“If Bacchus Had Left the Party Early” is an original interpretation of a “what if...” concept, while “‘Delirium Tremens” reads like a song.

I also enjoyed “Arguing with Cirrhosis” for the sadness of missed opportunities evoked.

I appreciated the assonance in “Notes to the Evening Nurse”. This piece resonated, showing tender random interactions those caring for the sick have with their charges.

I was glad to have the opportunity to read this book that was published in 2018. It is an enduring reminder of my friendship with Katarina.

[Nancy Stohlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An investigation into the complex emotions around mental illness and addiction, particularly as it affects the narrator’s brother, Lou. While much literature has been devoted to the stories of people suffering with these and other illnesses, there are fewer stories that speak to the experience of the bystander, those caught in the orbit of the illnesses and getting the midnight ER phone calls. Katherine allows us to feel the full scope of how these situations ripple into the tangential and shared spaces."

[K.B. Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems are so beautiful human. What a wonderful tribute to the author’s brother, artfully sharing her story and his. The descriptions and dialogue about his mental illness and healthcare in the 1960s are haunting. Her brother comes to life in these poems, masterfully. You can hear the music he played on the pages. You feel deeply for the author and her brother. A piece of writing that makes you think and feel, the best kind of art.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauntingly beautiful.

[Ashley]

very pretty