A review by helterskelliter
Pilgrim Bell: Poems by Kaveh Akbar
5.0
“I wish I was only as cruel as
the first time I noticed
I was cruel, waving my tiny
shadow over a pond to scare
the copper minnows…” (31)
This is truly one of the most sacrilegious yet somehow prophetic and hilarious and profoundly sad collections of poetry I’ve read in recent memory. It’s provocative and evocative, taking and giving, moving and giving pause, full and empty, deafening and so quiet. This is such a timely collection, full of reflections on society and self and the barriers we do and don’t, should and shouldn’t erect between the two.
Some poems are prayers and others are meditations on the purpose of prayer and belief at all in such an awful, heretical world. This collection is mournful and grievous but also beautiful and lyrical even in its grief. There’s hope and acceptance; something more powerful than faith or “god”.
Definitely recommend! A profound body of work!
the first time I noticed
I was cruel, waving my tiny
shadow over a pond to scare
the copper minnows…” (31)
This is truly one of the most sacrilegious yet somehow prophetic and hilarious and profoundly sad collections of poetry I’ve read in recent memory. It’s provocative and evocative, taking and giving, moving and giving pause, full and empty, deafening and so quiet. This is such a timely collection, full of reflections on society and self and the barriers we do and don’t, should and shouldn’t erect between the two.
Some poems are prayers and others are meditations on the purpose of prayer and belief at all in such an awful, heretical world. This collection is mournful and grievous but also beautiful and lyrical even in its grief. There’s hope and acceptance; something more powerful than faith or “god”.
Definitely recommend! A profound body of work!