Joanna Hoffman

there are 45 poems in this book and at least 10 of them are amazing. that might not sound like a good ratio (and maybe it isn't, i don't read much poetry) but it was enough for me that at least every few pages i found a poem i had to reread, read out loud, and make my partner read. the ones in here that are good, are really good.

i know that hoffman is a spoken word poet (i've seen videos of her and have been impressed) and i'm sure that she would have read these poems better than i did. (one of the best ones, in fact, i remember hearing her do on stage.)

i don't think this affected my objectivity, but i knew her a little growing up. she's the sister of a childhood friend of mine and the daughter of my mom's best friend. i think that i'm being objective when i say that there are some really incredible poems in here, and my "knowing" her vaguely only allows me a slightly different reference point for them.

it's not my favorite of the poems, but i love this, from "Grand Canyon":

"Like the canyon, I am shaped by what I miss. ...

Still wake up curled around the ghost of her
shape next to me, like a rusted scrape of earth
holding its dusty arms tight around the memory
of river."… (meer)