Caroline Maun

The Sleeping

Caroline Maun
ISBN 0-9712676-2-6e
Merrick Press 2006

Maun, as a poet writes reasonably accessible poetry as presented in this collection. By accessible, I mean that most people could read it, and understand what she is trying to communicate. Since she is trying to communicate about her perceptions about various activities, it helps that her readers, whether casual poetry readers or devote's get her message.
I must say up front, that I don't believe I am her target audience. The poems Maun has made for this collection are quite obviously feminine, both in tone and point of view. She writes of going to the OBG-YN, and how her body is treated in that situation, also how her body is treated by a lover, she is treated by a distant father, and more.
This is not poetry that will sing to your soul, sweep you away on tides of emotion. However, it doesn't strike me as that was Maun's intent. It strikes me as poetry designed to speak quietly, or whisper, to make you ponder and think about the ideas and scenes Maun is writing about here. Her voice in this collection is deceiving. By that, I mean it appears simple, yet there is a level of poetic brilliance here that adds to the illusion. For example, from the poem 'Affirmations' Maun writes
I have postcards with a few lines,
that tell me, even when you are far away
you bring me along.
These few lines communicate so much, the missing persons actions, and what it means to the poet. Each word significant, each word needed, but nothing superfluous. There is a concise precision to her poetry. Stripped of emotional hyper-activity, the emotions actually flow better, are more raw and more real. Stripping away the gloss, to allow the shine to come through in a more natural fashion.

Or so it seems to me. Not being an expert on poetry, these are simply my observations on Caroline Maun's fine collection of poems. I would recommend this book to anyone, intended audience or not. It is poetry of our time, for our time, which makes it vital and alive.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for purposes of this review.… (plus d'informations)