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InsideOut: poems

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L.L. Barkat, "author of Stone Crossings: Finding Grace in Hidden Places," got it into her head to sit outside each day for a year, even if only for a short time. And she got this idea - in the dead of winter. Her timing may have been off - snow and sub-zero temperatures aren't the most conducive conditions for a long-term plan - but she did it, and the result is "InsideOut: Poems."

Divided by seasons, the poems explore the range of human experience - from tragedy (the death of a spouse; a mother and son's last moments aboard an ill-fated airliner) to family and love. They also cover the senses - sight, taste, touch, hearing - in luxuriant, almost sensuous words and concepts.

From "In Your Dream:"

I was the wind
that knocked at the glass, that tipped
the candle that burned the kitchen;
all that remained was a golden fork.

I was the sound
of shattering, of gold
chattering amidst the wild
wild flames.

Or try this untitled poem:

I have heard
they harvest wild rice
by hand,
bending stems
that rise from waters,
knocking them
for chocolate
seed.

(And now say both poems out loud.)

I read "InsideOut" twice, and the second time was almost overwhelming. These are beautiful, luminous poems, and I'm glad Barkat braved those snows. She's given us a gift here, a great gift.

Curiosity caused me to pick up this book. From the first page and the first poem, I was hooked. Like a fish. I couldn't have escaped if I wanted to. Each verse pulled me deeper and deeper into L.L. Barkat's world, where words glisten and twist, where new ideas are born. I quickly realized that her poems were rich and fragrant, and that I needed to allow myself only a few at a time. From that first day, this book has become my constant companion, following me about the house, waiting for me to have a few moments to spare. I must confess, Inside Out made me fall in love with poetry all over again.

My view of poetry has changed of late. I used to think that it was not my thing. Poetry is for the culturally privileged or the academic elite--those exalted creatures who share little common ground with a practical gal like me.

All that changed when I met L.L. Barkat.

Under this remarkable woman's instruction I have come to a place of new appreciation for the word-sculpting of poetry.

In the introduction of her newly released book of poetry, InsideOut, L.L. addresses her poetry-writing philosophy:

"This is the tale of poetry-writing for many people. Unable to copy the clipped meter of Dickenson or the narrative voice of Frost, they give up and leave the effort to others. If the writing of poetry were not such a satisfying and healing endeavor, this would be a fine conclusion...Few of us who play with words will become the next poet laureate, but why should this stop us? If we can read poetry well, or speak poetry in normal conversation (which many of us uncannily do), then it might not hurt to try writing poetry too..."

But L.L. misleads us with this humble introduction. L.L. Barkat not only speaks poetry--she writes it very well.
InsideOut collects common moments and turns them into the extraordinary.

Consider this excerpt from Ignition:

Who can say when sorrow
will glide into the heart
like some Trojan Horse
on wheels

Today
beneath a bronzing maple,
it rode in on the curl
of a lemon-blushed leaf.


Or this unnamed gem:

Moss relents
and so the day, I break
beneath the shaded tree,
the promise of your fingers
falling softly.

The poems are broken into four sections, each corresponding to a season. The author was inspired by a commitment to spend some time outside each day for one year. Thus, there is a strong element of nature which wrought an awakening of sorts--at least for me. The eyes are opened to the oft overlooked.

The air is silk,
morning raises yet again
its veil of longing.

Other moments--intimate, sorrowful, humorous--are gathered in these pages. And the beauty of poetry is this: a different story is revealed to each reader.

In that the way we live our lives has a rhythm; in that we seek beauty and emotional expression daily--Life is poetry.

L.L. Barkat gives us a work of beauty that captures this truth through InsideOut.