p Review of The Sylf published in Small Press Review Sept.-Oct. 2003
p
The Sylf
by Jeffrey Ethan Lee
2003; 25 pp; Pa;
The Sow’s Ear Press
19535 Pleasant View Drive
Abingdon, VA 24211
$6.00
Francis Alix
A chapbook is a great way to experience a sampling of a poet’s work. Mr. Lee compiled some of his earlier work inspired by Taoist meditation postures and Buddhist wisdom literature for this chapbook, his second poetry chapbook. His compilation was successful for it won him the 2002 Chapbook Competition of The Sow’s Ear Poetry Review and was published as an issue of that review. He is a fine example of the diverse works the small press publishes and large press rarely publishes.
The poems are rooted in transpersonal states and romantic love. He uses nature imagery frequently, as one would expect from his inspiration. The poet explains ordinary things— breathing, walking, a pumping heart—with grace and visual acuity. A few images, such as “liquid joy” and “green fire” eluded me, but his images are solid and sometimes startling as in “Breath (an epitaph)”—
Storm-sunken ships yield
no trophies and no wisdom
to oceans—like breaths also
scattered I must come and go—
Some poems are written in a “two-voiced lyric form” where one poem is placed opposite another on the same page and they speak to each other. This creates an unusual harmony and contrast. It brings a welcome change from the average one-page-per-poem standard.
I look forwardto his first full-length book, whenever that may be. And, you should, too. At six dollars, this chapbook is a gift not only for its craft, but its inspiration.—