Customer Reviews

Buoyancy

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Peabody at times shows a comedian's grasp of the element of surprise, which in itself is worth several points. He has also grasped the idea that autobiography, random snapshots, and various oddities may all make their home within the loose confines of modern poetry. However, the elements of mystery (other than vague moments in his mostly autobiographical musings)and of irresolution are missing, creating a paradox, as life, especially via random snapshots and feelings, is rarely explained or resolved a la 30-minute sitcoms or Hollywood films. Nearly every poem ends resolutely or redundantly, hammering home its point, the title message, etc. If you enjoy the sort of poetry that is basically prose with line breaks and a bit of what might be called poetic thinking, or a poet's point of view, Peabody's brew may call for your cup. Finally, there is little, if any, music here, but that's a personal poetic proclivity.

Peabody demonstrates incredible wit and sensitivity in the highly enjoyable poems in Buoyancy and Other Myths. The collection is broken up into three parts, each with its own distinct mood.

The first section, "Shooting Myself in the Foot" focuses on familial ties, the interplay between brothers, and the dance of manhood between fathers and sons. In "The Forgiveness Device," Peabody examines the painful feelings of a son looking back with regret at his relationship with his father:

I'd rub my red bandanna
across his forehead
and soothe his brow.
Tell him, "Relax."
And watch his features soften.
Hear that laughter again.

Peabody's sense of humor is most apparent in the second section, "Kissing Games," which focuses on romantic relationships and their foibles. In "The Other Man is Always French," he has fun with the vulnerabilities of the modern-day sensitive average man, trying to make it in a world where the grass is always greener on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

"Between Funerals," the third section of Buoyancy, is loose on theme and contains more of an eclectic series of poems with titles like "What's Your Favorite Toxic Smell?," "Football Hell" and "Women, Fire and Dangerous Things."

Peabody is well known not only for his own poetry, but also as co-editor of the Mondo Barbie, Mondo Elvis, and Mondo Marilyn anthologies, and as editor of Gargoyle, a literary journal. I highly recommend his "Buoyancy and Other Myths" for the broad wit and emotional depth that its poems exhibit.

Written during that brief period when Richard was both a stripper and a Jehovah's Witness, this collection captures the true essence of God/dance/humor/darkness. It's worth dipping into your kid's college fund to buy a copy of this wonderful book by Jack Kerouac's missing son.