MOLLY MARTIN - BOOK REVIEW - A MATTER OF SELECTION BY CAROL SMALLWOOD

Reviewer's Bookwatch: August 2018
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575
 ​Molly Martin, Reviewer
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/aug_18.htm#molly
​

Book Review - A Matter of Selection
Carol Smallwood

​A Matter of Selection
Carol Smallwood
Poetic Matrix Press
http://www.poeticmatrix.com
9780998146980, $17.00
 
Carol Smallwood's A Matter of Selection is a small edition of poetry spanning a broad spectrum of free verse, requiem, rhyme and elegy.
 
Opening with a series of Acknowledgements, Foreword offered by Jordan Blum of The Bookends Review, and the Table of Contents Preface and Prologue; Smallwood whets Reader interest for the rhythmical works to follow.
 
Smallwood sets in motion the idea that we all make ongoing selections; some good, others not, and leaves us with the realization that choices are the grist of our being.
 
The Table of Contents indicates the 71 works are divided by Theme: Nature, Moments in Time, The Domestic and Speculations as a mix of poetic endeavors.
 
Nature sets the tone for the first segment The Universe is 6 stanzas focused on finding a good center for ourselves; for the writer, she has found security in cutting up pieces to sew with needle and thread.
 
Wind in Trees indicates a sketch that comes and goes with the anecdote left to the interpreter.
 
Finishing up this section is a three stanza piece, The Big Corn Field, filled with the poignancy of harvest and the emptiness of the field when the harvester has wrought its fury.
 
Moments in Time offers a 7 stanza Septet beginning with consideration of Routine before meandering through back aches and snow, limitations of logical atomism, more snow, mention that humans shed their skins a few cells at a time before ending on a whimsical, thought provoking note It's good we're not snakes - imagine all those human skins.
 
The Domestic includes Supermarket Triptych, Hanging Clothes on Clothes Lines, The Car Wash, The Sewing Box, and The Last Doll before coming to a close with a peek through Venetian blind and Capturing the Moon.
 
Speculations provides a jewel Near the Library Window for those who enjoy a nice visit to the reading room, while A Matter of Lines puts into focus the wait at the local post office where a queue leads to one or the other clerk behind the counter.
 
Sleeping Beauty cause us to consider, What would've happened if she hadn't been a beauty?
 
The Epilogue offers one more for those of us who gaze at the skies in effort to locate dinosaur and ships or puppies chasing butterflies to consider
The sky today was cumulus clouds:
The choice too immense, I chose one
to secure the secret of time and space,
forget spinning on a planet.
 
Poet Smallwood's collection of finely honed, detail filled verses spring from the page as though borne on wings to fill the air, the room, the location with perfume for the eyes.
 
I enjoyed reading these verses, some more than once, others a quick passage with scant time to savor the message before rushing on to the next just to see what was there.
 
I have read for review a number of poetry tomes and am always amazed again to find the broad spectrum of poetic abilities engendered by each bard.
 
As each poet proves to be a complex soul, perpetually exploring technical horizons of the poetic field and the impetuses, stimuli, and triumphs of those who harvest within the boundaries of the imagination; I continue to enjoy the verses even more.
 
I enjoyed the read, and am happy to recommend Carol Smallwood's A Matter of Selection for those who enjoy poetry and for those who do not yet realize they can!
 
I received ARC from the author for review.