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What We Lost in the Swamp: Poems
£14.20£15.20 (-7%)
How do you untangle the real you from the curated you? In this introspective yet whimsical collection, poet Grant Chemidlin takes readers into the thicket of self-discovery.
What We Lost in the Swamp is a lush and vibrant collection of poems that examines the many manifestations of green: nature, inexperience, jealousy, burgeoning love, and exploring sexuality. It is a slow unfurling. It is a love letter to growth, to rediscovery, to finally learning how to speak the truth. These astonishing poems ask the reader: Who do you want to be in this world? How do you want to build a life?
This is not a coming out. This is a coming in to one’s truest self.
What We Lost in the Swamp is a lush and vibrant collection of poems that examines the many manifestations of green: nature, inexperience, jealousy, burgeoning love, and exploring sexuality. It is a slow unfurling. It is a love letter to growth, to rediscovery, to finally learning how to speak the truth. These astonishing poems ask the reader: Who do you want to be in this world? How do you want to build a life?
This is not a coming out. This is a coming in to one’s truest self.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Central Avenue Publishing (16 May 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 128 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1771682892 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1771682893 |
| Dimensions | 13.34 x 0.76 x 20.32 cm |
by Matthew
I wasn’t familiar with Grant Chemidlin until I requested this appealing collection of poetry – and what a collection it is. Here, the poet focuses on issues from nature, to his sexuality, through to experiences with a counsellor. I enjoyed the way the collection is cyclical with the start and end focusing on a theme of nature.
Even though I enjoyed all of the poems, there were some particular stand-outs: ‘The Stoner Safari’ (not sure about the title, tbh) perfectly conjures up the adolescent years, and clings on to youth before it can be forgotten, with ‘Guided/by starlight, we scraped/&scratched…’ reminding me somewhat of my own rural childhood and the hi-jinx I used to get up to under cover of darkness. In ‘Portrait of a Painter Painting’, the poet focuses on the craft of writing, using the analogy of an artist’s canvas. ‘Tour de Force’ perfectly captures how Chemidlin hopes we inherit favourable qualities from family, such as a ‘love of weather’, as well as looks. Other notable stand-outs for me are ‘The Garden Gate’, ‘The Little Builder Man’ and ‘Pockets’. Childhood is, again, captured in ‘The Wagon Game; here is a poem that reminds us how games from our formative years can stick with us, and help to prepare us for the ‘crashes & burns of life’. Just one thing – I am not really too sure why the ampersand has to be used instead of ‘and’ but I guess this is artistic licence.
A stunning collection and one that has prompted me to read more of the writer’s work. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
by Ayla
Thanks, NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Poems are personal and I always feel a sense of inadequacy when reviewing them as It feels wrong to attach material value to someone’s utmost and honest thoughts.
What We Lost in The Swamp is full of beautiful prose and imagery calling attention to the poet’s struggles with acceptance, anxiety and different periods in their life. I found it entertaining and a comforting read and hope you will too