Poetry Readers Challenge discussion

This entire chapbook of poems is devoted to Aunt Mary, who lives in a nursing home, complains about the lack of service in this “hotel,” the lousy food in this “restaurant,” and asks her niece to complain to the “stage manager“ about the boring entertainment. She reminisces about Frank Sinatra, homemade Italian food, shopping trips, high balls, and dancing. Her monologues, sprinkled with Italian (there’s a glossary at the end) are at times touching or wistful, but mostly hilarious. Aunt Mary is usually nodding off or telling you it’s time to leave at the end of each visit, but you’re eager to turn the page and come back again.

(This was published by Finishing Line Press and isn't on Amazon yet, but should be soon.)

Whether you have an Italian family, your own version of Aunt Mary, or simply enjoy good comedy, you’ll love this collection. It would be a great gift for nonreaders of poetry, too. Pouf is funnier than any sitcom.

This sounds like fun and I'm always interested in work that bridges the gap to those outside of the usual poetry-reading community. Do you have a release date for it?

Jen wrote: "This sounds like fun and I'm always interested in work that bridges the gap to those outside of the usual poetry-reading community. Do you have a release date for it?"

Maryfrances Wagner is very much a poetry insider and leader in the Kansas City literary community. I've been hearing the Aunt Mary poems for years, but she was holding them back for a chapbook rather than doling them out in her longer books. The book has been released from Finishing Line Press. They often take their time adding it to Amazon.

Nice review, Alarie. I recently saw a great episode of the TV comedy Master of None in which a woman living in a nursing home reminisces about various things, including Frank Sinatra and the great Italian food she used to eat when she lived on the outside. A delightful show. I guess that as our population gets older, these kinds of narratives will become more prominent in our cultural conversation as a nation.

Jenna wrote: "Nice review, Alarie. I recently saw a great episode of the TV comedy Master of None in which a woman living in a nursing home reminisces about various things, including Frank Sinatra and the great ..."

Thanks, Jenna. I agree. So many people are put off of visiting nursing homes, and these poems remind you why you must go and that you just might enjoy yourself, too.

What a terrific review!

Nina wrote: "What a terrific review!"

Thanks, Nina. I appreciate hearing that.

I enjoyed your review too, Alaire. Is there a link where we could read one of these poems? Thanks.

S. wrote: "I enjoyed your review too, Alaire. Is there a link where we could read one of these poems? Thanks."

The author, Maryfrances Wagner, is on Goodreads. I'd suggest looking her up and asking her to mail you one. Meanwhile, I'll ask her if she can send me a poem to paste in or link to on line.

Pouf

I looked up several of her other books- I'm really interested in reading her work. Thanks again, Alarie!

Maryfrances Wagner gave me a link to share with you. "Pazza" means crazy:

https://wildgoosepoetryreview.wordpre...

Nina wrote: "Pouf

I looked up several of her other books- I'm really interested in reading her work. Thanks again, Alarie!"

They are all excellent.

Nina wrote: "Pouf

I looked up several of her other books- I'm really interested in reading her work. Thanks again, Alarie!"

Nina, Maryfrances Wagner is one of the editors at I-70 Review. You should consider send them some poems.

Thanks for the link!

Loved the link. Heartwarming comes to mind (but not in a way that would condemn the poetry as saccharine).

Alarie, thanks, will do.