A black dog, a broken heart.” (”Keep Things Simple”)
Nolcha Fox is synonymous with experimentation, as evident in her collaborations with Mike Armstrong on “End of Earth” and Ken Tomaro on “Seesaw, Quirky Poems.” She startled, amazed, and moved me; I froze, then thawed.
“Writing Between the Lines” by Nolcha Fox is written as part of a 30 poems in 30 days challenge. Each piece begins and ends with borrowed lines from other poets, yet what happens in between is unmistakably Nolcha’s own voice. This unique style of taking the first and last lines from published poems and weaving something new between them gives the book both a sense of rootedness and a sense of flight.
Fox balances playfulness and poignancy. The poem “Platform” celebrates lost hours from unanswered prayers. “Hiding” captures solitude and the wish to remain unseen-” I spend summer afternoons nowhere to be found”. “Flight” is a beautiful poem weaving longing and separation through vivid natural metaphors. “City-City” captures the turbulence and frustration of urban life:
“The city is a myth of silence.
The city- the city is where I disappear”.
In Nolcha’s hands, a streetlight lives, a platform prays, night climbs into bed for brandy, sleep goes out with girls, underwear protests, and the womb remembers.
Her poems often offer intellectual pathos that feels deep, not cloying. In “Drunk,” a surreal yet comforting image of companionship and exhaustion is portrayed. “My Father’s Death” bleeds raw emotion: “My father’s last breath is still the blade / that pares and cleaves me open.” Grief becomes tangible in everyday objects, such as cigars, napkins, and whiskey (Yukon Jack).
Nolcha Fox also gives nature her own special twist. “Dog Days” makes the sun a barking hound chasing rabbits. “Lightning” puts a blackbird’s heart against a sky cracked with electricity. These poems demonstrate how metaphor brings the ordinary life to life. Some poems have dark wit, like “Keep Things Simple.” Others, such as “Pray and Measure,” invite us to slow down, expanding a moment to hold thunderstorms and moons:
” I need to stop to see
the length of a moment
that expands to hold
a thunderstorm, the moon.”
Each poem encourages you to reflect on emotions, solitude, longing, and personal choices. They blend themes of loss, love, hope, and profound questions about life, creating a vivid portrayal of the human experience. The metaphors and imagery connect real moments with memories.
This book is perfect for anyone who wants poetry that surprises, challenges, and stays with you long after you finish reading.
Special Gift: Read thirty poems and get free recommendations for thirty more.
