gabbiebrandt's review
5.0
I loved this one almost as much as I loved "Unstable Neighborhood Rabbit." I'm a sucker for prose poetry, and Mikko Harvey is an expert of blending storytelling and prose into his poetry. Each one has such a different subject but they all blend together seamlessly into this collection. Favorites include "The Poem Grace Interrupted," "Personhood," and "Immunity."
lifeinpoetry's review
5.0
I wonder if later
I will forgive myself
for having denied my loved ones
demonstrations of my loving them.
I was too busy demonstrating
myself to the universe.
I was too busy turning
strangers into sites of worship.
(from “Funny Business”)
I’ve noticed
the more you
interrupt
yourself
the more
destinies
you invite
in.
(from “Microsleep”)
It is my intention to listen, but my hands
keep giggling while reminding me
I don’t get to be a human being
for very long, as if this were the punchline to a joke
whose first half I missed. I arrived too late.
I typically arrive about three years too late.
I wish I had been able to sit in that white,
aromatic kitchen and look you in the face,
but I was not ready. I was still on my way.
(from “Wind-Related Ripple in the Wheatfield”)
I will forgive myself
for having denied my loved ones
demonstrations of my loving them.
I was too busy demonstrating
myself to the universe.
I was too busy turning
strangers into sites of worship.
(from “Funny Business”)
I’ve noticed
the more you
interrupt
yourself
the more
destinies
you invite
in.
(from “Microsleep”)
It is my intention to listen, but my hands
keep giggling while reminding me
I don’t get to be a human being
for very long, as if this were the punchline to a joke
whose first half I missed. I arrived too late.
I typically arrive about three years too late.
I wish I had been able to sit in that white,
aromatic kitchen and look you in the face,
but I was not ready. I was still on my way.
(from “Wind-Related Ripple in the Wheatfield”)
tinamayreads's review
5.0
LET THE WORLD HAVE YOU by Mikko Harvey is a spectacular poetry book! I loved these poems! I absolutely loved the touches of humour. Several of these goofball poems made me LOL! I found this such an enjoyable read and read most of it in one day. How fitting to find the opening poem is titled Spring and I read this book during spring. Love how Spring is about talking to a sparrow. Animals feature throughout this book. There’s a bear selling tonics, a mean butterfly, an inner owl and mentions of a walrus, penguin, fish, wolf, guinea pigs, mouse, hummingbird, raccoon and squirrels. I loved the surreal and amusing aspect of these poems. Some of the poems that made me laugh are How Fresh? and Travelling Pharmacy. My fave poems are The Mouth of the Doctor, The Best Bread in the World and Personality. I’m so glad I got to read this book!
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Love the cover art by James Siena!
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Thank you to House of Anansi for my gifted review copy!
.
Love the cover art by James Siena!
.
Thank you to House of Anansi for my gifted review copy!
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