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Inventory at the All-night Drugstore

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Erika Meitner's poems are (I'll use the words from a poem of hers) "glamorously helpless". The glamour of love is seen at its best when we end up on our knees, almost destroyed, but left in that beautiful oblivion that the truly passionate know. Her love poems are not only erotic poems written for the beloved, but love poems for her students, love poems for her family, and love poems written to an invisible God who is clearly a God of words. These poems, visceral, inked with the precision of a needle, leave their mark, their tattoo, on the reader and on contemporary poetry.

Erika Meitner is simply a fantastic poet. Her work is real, sincere, beautiful and original. It deserves every single bit of praise it gets--she's an enormous star with so much wit and talent, she truly blows all those obtuse, frighteningly self-referential young turks right out of the water. Hers is a voice worth listening to: how can one woman have all the answers, and in one slim tome? Look no further. It's all in the drugstore, and it's open all night.

I usually find contemporary poetry esoteric. But this fantastic collection speaks of real experiences and feelings, in a voice tuned to the meter of modern life. Ms. Meitner has really touched me with her personal insights on moments that affect us all.

If you like your poetry raw and without boundaries, you should read Meitner's collection. There's much promise here for a long career in the field and the wise collector of important lit would snap up a copy quick. Multiple readings encouraged and definitely enriching, but due to her clear and evocative style, not necessary to be bowled over by her imagery and insight. Contemporary poetry that doesn't whine and tells it like it is; accessible but with surprising depth. Leaves a smile, and leaves you thinking...

The most notable characteristic of Meitner's work is the naked reality with which she treats her subjects. It's like seeing life under a bright flourescent light. Meitner's writing ranges from humorous to gut-wrenching but all of her poems will make you feel (some very deeply - see "Elegy"), and that is the truest measure of art. I highly recommend this book.

I'm not a huge poetry fan, but I have to say that this debut collection blew me away. Highly recommended.