Book Review: Frayed Edges: Poems
Frayed Edges: Poems by Kahlani B. SteeleMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first thing we see when we open a book, whether we realize it or not, is formatting. In Kahlani B. Steele’s Frayed Edges, the white space of each page seems to lift up each poem into in a corner, which feels cozy and inviting. That space also allows us the quiet needed to think about what we’re reading.
Every aspect of our world is up for scrutiny. The inhabitants of office cubicle farms, the experience of riding an elevator, all-too-human glimpses into sexuality, dreams, and nightmares. Nature, a favorite topic of many poets is given room to grow. All topics are given special twists that breathe life into the author’s work.
It’s never easy to single one poem out of a collection to call a favorite. So much is dependent on mood and timing. Though, I will wiggle an eyebrow at “Decadence”, a collaboration between Steele and Krystoff Juddbryll. It’s a celebration of a sexual union, delightfully presented in cleverly organized alliterations. I’m a complete pushover for clever wordplay. Pardon my innuendo, but it pushed all my buttons!
Lori Alden Holuta
Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of Mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables and herbs when she’s not writing, editing, or playing games with a cat named Chives.
