Great Exodus, Great Wall, Great Party by Chessy Normile

I read a few poems by Chessy Normile in a journal recently and asked for her new book as a birthday present. These poems are smart, funny, and poignant. The humor is outstanding, and a path toward vulnerability, not a shield against it. The poet uses humor to sidle up to emotion, throw you off guard, and make you feel. Buy here.

From “Like Poem”

Andy makes it sound / like he had a crazy hairstyle when he was my age, / but I saw a picture it was not that crazy. / I say I want to cut my hair off when I quit my job / and he says, I’m going to hold you to that. // Stop trying to press me into things. / Stop lying about your hair, Andy. . .

“Hi Nora”

Remember how we had a beer with those priests at Lowlands / and when we left they said “Be seeing you” / and they meant in the afterlife?

“Feedback”

We don’t get a lot of opportunities to give men feedback. / Personally, I hated being raped.