Cora W.’s Reviews > Yellowrass > Status Update

Beauty Parlour Tips

"...
Trust the venerable Chinese to pander to horny pandas."

That's not even the worst line. This same, short poem also discusses chimpanzee sex then goes into "panda porn films". I'm not reading this any more.

Poem For Planet Earth

"...
the sightseeing's not up to much
unless you crave arid uneven terrain
a landscape unfit for a thirsty camel
Might as well peer into a Tandoori oven

..."

"...

High-tech NASA rubbish abandoned
on the Martian plains waits for archeologists
or scavengers from other galaxies
..."

Ok that was actually funny and amusing :)

Postcard From Moscow

"...
The rattling washer spins wildly
like a sex machine massaging
a naked brain with soapy water
..."

Why and how does he manage to throw something referencing sex into so many of his poems? They seem unnecessary most of the time and it's becoming tedious.

Mating Rites continued

"...
Nothing feeds on naked ass like love induced mosquitoes
..."


What did I just read and why am I reading this 😅

Mating Rites

"...
Jack Kennedy and Jackie did it once or twice
turtle-style on white hot sand in Florida Keys
..."

I rather dislike this poem.

The Economy In The New Century

"...
Who could pick a quarrel
with the bones of war
or stop free enterprise from
dipping into third world
populations for spare parts?
..."


He has some good lines at least.

If the author had included an explanation for each poem perhaps I could enjoy them more? I can't understand why I'm supposed to care about these poems. They don't feel as though they were written for others to enjoy, those who'll like them will like them and everyone else shouldn't bother. Were they simply not written to be relatable? Did the author forget to write in the bits that would allow others to understand?

"I was writing another epic poem
Concerning my obsession about dying in bed
When the undertaker rang the doorbell..."

I've figured out why so far I don't enjoy any of these poems. It feels like he's so focused on trying to be witty that there's hardly any soul actually in any of the poems. Some of the poems that do feel like they have feeling are also filled with what seems like inside jokes. So far not for me.

I'm having a hard time getting into it. So far the poems aren't my cup of tea. I can't remember why I picked this book up in the first place. I read about the author to see if he's even someone I would enjoy reading about what he may have written about. Then I skimmed the book and read a shorter poem. That poem seemed promising so I will continue to give it a go.