vulturetime's review
4.0
Review is coming at this as if I had never read any of Akbar's poems before. This is because I've already read (and really enjoyed) three of the poems in here, but since I encountered them in a different context (in Calling a Wolf a Wolf) they felt jarring to me personally. This collection is also smaller than Calling a Wolf a Wolf, so there was less "space" for me to get back into the collection as it stands on its own. If you don't like dealing with repeat poems, I'd recommend Portrait of the Alcoholic first and then Calling a Wolf a Wolf.
Of the poems that were new to me, I really liked "Being in This World Makes Me Feel Like A Time Traveler," "Portrait of the Alcoholic Three Weeks Sober," and "Every Drunk Wants to Die Sober / It's How We Beat the Game." Honorary mentions to "Personal Inventory: Fearless (Temporis Fila)," "Desunt Nonnulla," and "Eager." The poems that I've read before (and enjoyed all of them) were: "Calling a Wolf a Wolf (inpatient)," "Do You Speak Persian?" and "Portrait of the Alcoholic Stranded Alone on a Desert Island."
Of the poems that were new to me, I really liked "Being in This World Makes Me Feel Like A Time Traveler," "Portrait of the Alcoholic Three Weeks Sober," and "Every Drunk Wants to Die Sober / It's How We Beat the Game." Honorary mentions to "Personal Inventory: Fearless (Temporis Fila)," "Desunt Nonnulla," and "Eager." The poems that I've read before (and enjoyed all of them) were: "Calling a Wolf a Wolf (inpatient)," "Do You Speak Persian?" and "Portrait of the Alcoholic Stranded Alone on a Desert Island."
laurelinwonder's review against another edition
5.0
When the poetry is really good, I read it aloud, so I can taste the language. I read this collection aloud for my baby, for my cat, for my husband, for anyone who could hear the cadence of my voice.
Each portrait is an epistle, Akbar’s portraiture reflects the shared history of the addresser and addressee, “the drinker and the drink.”
This book is also about the poet’s relationship to language. In “Calling a Wolf a Wolf (Inpatient),” the speaker attempts to control his cravings by naming them, as if the signifier would protect him from the signified. “I’ve given this coldness many names,” Akbar writes, “thinking if I called a wolf a wolf I might dull its fangs.”
This is a killer collection, read it now.
Each portrait is an epistle, Akbar’s portraiture reflects the shared history of the addresser and addressee, “the drinker and the drink.”
This book is also about the poet’s relationship to language. In “Calling a Wolf a Wolf (Inpatient),” the speaker attempts to control his cravings by naming them, as if the signifier would protect him from the signified. “I’ve given this coldness many names,” Akbar writes, “thinking if I called a wolf a wolf I might dull its fangs.”
This is a killer collection, read it now.
csamura's review against another edition
4.0
I prepared myself to be underwhelmed with this, having just picked it up on a whim. What initially felt mediocre at best rose in a subtle and often beautiful crescendo. Words that were often raw and hungry, sometimes delicate and tender, with nostalgic reflections on youth and honest self-depreciation. This was a worthwhile, albeit rather short, book of poetry.
thewileyseven's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Self harm
willthesecond's review against another edition
4.0
the visual images and language in this book is so rich. sometimes i squirmed for meaning but ended up sitting with the images that were left for me and i felt full. i will be searching the lines of this collection for a while.
smblanc1793's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I don’t know why it did not occur to me that so much of this book I would have read before in Calling a Wolf a Wolf, but even so it is hard not to fall in love with this chapbook. To read the poems in their first release, their original order, with their original, raw, intent.