Jeanne Marie Spicuzza

Jeanne Marie Spicuzza's surprising little collection is a delightful combination of classical motifs and contemporary "admittedly confused" feminism. One of my favorites: "Helen (if she were a Jewish American Princess living in Brooklyn)" begins: "It's not my fault./I was framed./I may be pretty,/but I'm not that pretty./I didn't fashion the tanks/build the guns/forge swords that slashed--and I didn't think Paris or Achilles/were very good lucking either." Other favories: "Why I am afraid of the dark," "Of you," "Intersubjective" which ends, "because/you and you and you and me/we/make it/be/Confused?/Don't be./Listen./I am not in sales..." and one more: "What an obsessive-compulsive disorder/would say if it could speak." If you're one of those rare souls who still buy and read poetry, don't miss this one. It's worth much more than the price.