
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Caw of the wild
A review of Scott Andrew Christensen’s word play poetry debut.
Like a mind grasping at life’s absurdity Nova Scotia poet Scott Andrew Christensen’s spare and taut poems cast lines across the page like a fly fisherman, flirting with a canny and yet unconquerable mid-size Atlantic Salmon. The sense of wit and tension is perhaps reflected in the idea of that eye fixed on that infernal fly (or bird thumping against the window pane) or perhaps the inner psychology of a soul in reflective mode, catching inspiration in nits in the sunlight. If the metaphor of water is used it is with great effect and the channels of thinking and questioning permeate numerous word play poems which pay homage to nature like a late night voice at the cottage speculating not on life but at the etymology in life itself. ‘Buckets of Buffed Caw’ is stand alone study in the singular originality of the poetic voice. Seek this one out to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth Bishop and a ghost of George Elliot Clarke. Unexpected and a delight to read and reread for its obscure and at times brilliant dead pan humour. The Turkish influence also resonates in strange and beguiling ways.
Review

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