All Day, Talking by Sarah A. Chavez
Publisher: dancing girl press (2014)
Purchase: @ dancing girl press $7
Review by Sally Deskins
The opening poem of Sarah A. Chavez’ All Day, Talking (2014, dancing girl press) immediately introduces what is so fetching about this collection: the speaker’s unassuming wit. “I.” reads:
Dear Carole, You never told me
Silence could be so satisfying.
The other day, I almost told
another stranger
to fuck off.
As we read through these letters from the speaker to a deceased friend or lover, Carole, several simple yet profound musings occur: riding the bus, tasting and eating on the floor, a visit to the dentist to get a wisdom tooth pulled, stealing a ring at an art fair, a haircut that Carole didn’t recommend while living. Each musing is written with a slight sadness but nevertheless genuine jocularity. A meeting with a barista brings forward a memory in "Dear Carole, It’s happening again—":
I know she’s not you, but there is something
about the nicotine stains
on her fingers and I miss you
so much it’s like I swallowed a bomb
and this fucking lady’s the detonator
and if she asks me one more time
what I want I swear to god
I’m actually going to tell her.
And a favorite literal one-liner--"Dear Carole, Just a quick note/C Flat." (16)
These intimate reflections invite readers into the inner thoughts of someone mourning a loss with such a poignant sharpness that we want to know this person, we root for them, we want to hang out with them and talk all day with them. The cover art by Berly Brown, a black outer space or night scene with expressively painted bright colored donuts in the foreground, and an abstracted mass in the background reminiscent of a thought bubble or pretty storm cloud or sunset, is a brilliant visual complement to this dark but playful collection.
Publisher: dancing girl press (2014)
Purchase: @ dancing girl press $7
Review by Sally Deskins
The opening poem of Sarah A. Chavez’ All Day, Talking (2014, dancing girl press) immediately introduces what is so fetching about this collection: the speaker’s unassuming wit. “I.” reads:
Dear Carole, You never told me
Silence could be so satisfying.
The other day, I almost told
another stranger
to fuck off.
As we read through these letters from the speaker to a deceased friend or lover, Carole, several simple yet profound musings occur: riding the bus, tasting and eating on the floor, a visit to the dentist to get a wisdom tooth pulled, stealing a ring at an art fair, a haircut that Carole didn’t recommend while living. Each musing is written with a slight sadness but nevertheless genuine jocularity. A meeting with a barista brings forward a memory in "Dear Carole, It’s happening again—":
I know she’s not you, but there is something
about the nicotine stains
on her fingers and I miss you
so much it’s like I swallowed a bomb
and this fucking lady’s the detonator
and if she asks me one more time
what I want I swear to god
I’m actually going to tell her.
And a favorite literal one-liner--"Dear Carole, Just a quick note/C Flat." (16)
These intimate reflections invite readers into the inner thoughts of someone mourning a loss with such a poignant sharpness that we want to know this person, we root for them, we want to hang out with them and talk all day with them. The cover art by Berly Brown, a black outer space or night scene with expressively painted bright colored donuts in the foreground, and an abstracted mass in the background reminiscent of a thought bubble or pretty storm cloud or sunset, is a brilliant visual complement to this dark but playful collection.
Sally Deskins is an artist and writer. Currently a Teaching Assistant in the Art History Graduate Program at West Virginia University, her work explores womanhood and motherhood in her life and others. Her work has been published and exhibited nationally. She illustrated Intimates and Fools (Les Femmes Folles Books, 2014, poetry by Laura Madeline Wiseman) and the forthcoming Leaves of Absence: An Illustrated Guide to Common Garden Affections (Red Dashboard, poetry by Laura Madeline Wiseman, Nov. 2015). She is founding editor and curator of Les Femmes Folles, an organization promoting women in art. sallydeskins.tumblr.com
