2 stars
An interesting memoir told in poetry and prose. Clark works many topics into the collection, from parenthood and relationships to baseball and a disdain for offensive mascots that claim to “honor” culture and tradition. From mundane experiences to exciting stories, this book covers a lot of ground. It includes much about how indigenous people are viewed and treated, both in terms of overt racism and violence as well as more subtle discrimination and microaggressions.
Despite the insight in this work, the book’s style didn’t particularly resonate with me. While the book itself is not simple, the use of rhyme and similar rhythm across poems made much of the book feel repetitive. Some phrases are used through multiple poems, which added to the repetitive nature of the work. I actually found I preferred the poems in which Clark wasn’t so caught up in the rhyme scheme. The message came through more strongly and the words flowed more naturally.
While the prose offered interesting insight, it was often used to explain the poem it proceeded. For me, this took away from the experience of the poem itself. I like poetry that can speak for itself. Explaining the poem dampened its message and the need to provide context in order for the poem to make sense to the reader took away from what it was saying.
Clark has much to share and I’m glad he’s found an outlet in his poetry. This style doesn’t work for me personally, but (as a lifelong Wisconsinite) I do appreciate the opportunity to read a Wisconsin-based poet.