Reviews
Description
In his sixth book of poems, Charles Bachman, with an imagination that knows no limits and sharp eloquence of language, presents a fascinating variety, including more memories of his Iowa childhood, nature in its menacing and its beneficent aspects, as well as wildly experimental graphic effects and continued word inventions a la Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky. The mixed comedic/serious tone of the title indicates the overall tomes of the book: whimsical and surrealistically farcical, serious and respectful, sensitive and gritty in facing whatever comes along. With each new volume, his stylistic control becomes more adept--whether it takes the form of a George Hebert-structured metaphysical poem, or of much freer verse. Part of his strength as a poet is that he really "goes his own way," not following any poetic fashions or trends.
In his sixth book of poems, Charles Bachman, with an imagination that knows no limits and sharp eloquence of language, presents a fascinating variety, including more memories of his Iowa childhood, nature in its menacing and its beneficent aspects, as well as wildly experimental graphic effects and continued word inventions a la Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky. The mixed comedic/serious tone of the title indicates the overall tomes of the book: whimsical and surrealistically farcical, serious and respectful, sensitive and gritty in facing whatever comes along. With each new volume, his stylistic control becomes more adept--whether it takes the form of a George Hebert-structured metaphysical poem, or of much freer verse. Part of his strength as a poet is that he really "goes his own way," not following any poetic fashions or trends.
Reviews