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Portable Light
New poems by Mike James
123 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
About the author
Mike James
245 books2 followersLibrarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 20, 2022
Mike James is one of the most dynamic, soulful poets working today. Read his poems. Your heart will grow three sizes.
September 18, 2022
I'm an old friend of the author, who was the editor/publisher of my chapbook, and I've reviewed many of the "Selected" poems in their other volumes. That said, and perhaps from familiarity, my favorite pieces are from the older poems.
I recommend the volume. Go buy it now.
I made special note of "Marriage Suite" and its simple lessons about how this blending of lives works. I also especially enjoy the whimsy and imagination of "The Sundial." Making a story out of an object is a great artistic move.
"Fallen Angel" reminded me of one of my favorite novels: The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break. Similar conceit, similar imagination.
A line from "A Good Day" inspired a poem I wrote this week, currently titled "Steps for Running Away with the Circus." My favorite line from the whole book is out of "Discount Ghazal of Everyday Saints" (also one of my favorite titles): "Most of my friends live with hallucinations."
I will admit that I didn't warm up to the new poems, not as much as I expected. They are in the Mike James voice, they feel right, there's experiment and imagination, and I liked them, but no grabbers. Except for one couplet at the end of "You Caught Me Love Dancing":
If I look in the mirror, a few words are written all over my face.
Some days it's too much to read them.
I recommend the volume. Go buy it now.
I made special note of "Marriage Suite" and its simple lessons about how this blending of lives works. I also especially enjoy the whimsy and imagination of "The Sundial." Making a story out of an object is a great artistic move.
"Fallen Angel" reminded me of one of my favorite novels: The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break. Similar conceit, similar imagination.
A line from "A Good Day" inspired a poem I wrote this week, currently titled "Steps for Running Away with the Circus." My favorite line from the whole book is out of "Discount Ghazal of Everyday Saints" (also one of my favorite titles): "Most of my friends live with hallucinations."
I will admit that I didn't warm up to the new poems, not as much as I expected. They are in the Mike James voice, they feel right, there's experiment and imagination, and I liked them, but no grabbers. Except for one couplet at the end of "You Caught Me Love Dancing":
If I look in the mirror, a few words are written all over my face.
Some days it's too much to read them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews