Poetry Readers Challenge discussion

Sadly, I didn't find this outing as strong as the first I read, Night Sky with Exit Wounds. In some cases, TMI to the point of distraction from the poet's point. In others, leggy poems that go on and on and lose the narrative thread. Resting on laurels, maybe? Riding your name to Easier Acceptance Lane? (It doesn't appear on my GPS.)

Dunno. I can't answer, and this is just my opinion. The poem I chose to share (below) is the first in the collection. It's not knock-your-socks-off great, but it had some nice moments worthy of cheer, so here:


The Bull

He stood alone in the backyard, so dark
the night purpled around him.
I had no choice. I opened the door
& stepped out. Wind
in the branches. He watched me with kerosene
-blue eyes. What do you want? I asked, forgetting I had
no language. He kept breathing,
to stay alive. I was a boy--
which meant I was a murderer
of my childhood. & like all murderers, my god
was stillness. My god, he was still
there. Like something prayed for
by a man with no mouth. The green-blue lamp
swirled in its socket. I didn't
want him. I didn't want him to
be beautiful--but needing beauty
to be more than hurt gentle
enough to hold, I
reached for him. I reached--not the bull--
but the depths. Not an answer but
an entrance the shape of
an animal. Like me.


I like especially that bit about a boy being "a murderer / of my childhood. & like all murderers, my god / was stillness." That and the two-line finish.

Ken, I felt the same

Nina wrote: "Ken, I felt the same"

Good to know, Nina. Yours is an opinion I trust!

Ken wrote: "Nina wrote: "Ken, I felt the same"

Good to know, Nina. Yours is an opinion I trust!"

Yes, I usually throw my hat in with both of you. I really like this particular poem, but won't rush to buy the book. I preferred Vuong's poetic memoir to the only poetry book I've read by him.