To the Left of Time, by Thomas Lux

Here's what I hope for when I read poetry: words that capture and convey emotion in a way that prose simply can't.  Descriptive passages that describe nature in ways that bring flora and fauna and landscapes to life, again in a way that prose can't or simply doesn't.  Turns of phrase that use language in unexpected ways.

Thomas Lux's new poetry collection, To the Left of Time, hints at some of that, but only in a tepid way.  The dominant theme, if there is one, is the humor of daily life, with a touch of nostalgia.  One example is "Ode to the Fire Hydrant," in which Lux reflects on his summer of painting fire hydrants to pay of a juvenile debt to society.

Lux's poems are cute, sometimes memorable, but not anything I'd want to read over and over again.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

2016 Reading Challenge: A book of poetry
#vtReadingChallenge