Heathen

by R. Flowers Rivera

Divided into four sections, Heathen is a unified collection of poetry satisfying both intellectual and emotional appetites. The vocabulary, phrasing, and figurative lan- guage prove author R. Flowers Rivera to be a master of technique. A few of the poems include "Black English" suggesting that they are universal in their application.

The characters in Part I, Isle of Promethea, bring classical mythology, especially Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, vividly to life through applications to modern life and a sense of being present. Part II, I Am Hephaestus, consists of a single poem with the same title divided into twelve sections and continues its mythological basis. In Part III, Doubt, there is more variety, suggested by epigraphs by authors as dif- ferent as James Seamon Cotter, Jr, Gertrude Stein, and the author of the biblical book of John; personal and symbolic romantic love is introduced in such poems as "Vivid," "Anniversary Apart," and "Stay" although the "you" does not necessar- ily refer to a person. "Her," for example, describes a poet's pen as "a fickle lover" who refuses to produce the magic words of poetry. Part IV, "Mustard Seed," is the most personal section as "a conversation with myself." Here the author transforms the ordinary into provocative extraordinary expression. Her love of the South, the simple act of ironing clothing on a hot summer day, driving a car, braiding a child's hair, and observing a Muslim man praying at an airport are some of the subjects in this final group. This is an extremely satisfying collection of poems that invite the reader to return to it again and again.

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2015

About the author

R. Flowers Rivera is a Mississippi native who did her doctoral studies at Binghamton University. In 2009 she was awarded the Leo Love Merit Scholarship in Poetry in association with the Taos Summer Writers Conference. Her short story, “The Iron Bars," won the 1999 Peregrine Prize. She was a finalist for the Naomi Long Madgett Award for Poetry in 2002, and she received two nominations for Pushcart XXVII. She was a finalist for the 2001 May Swenson Award for Poetry and the Journal Award in Poetry. Her work has been anthologized in Mischief, Caprice & Other Poetic Strategies and published in journals such as African American Review, The Beloit Poetry Journal, Columbia, Feminist Studies, Obsidian, and The Southern Review.

Reviews

[Anthonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contained a fresh new poetry of the, heart, mind, soul, life, experiences, wisdom, honor, truth, sadness, happiness and understanding. I truly enjoyed reading these poems from this book This book of poetry opens one's mind to other ways of thinking as well as understanding.

[Kristy Renee Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love poetry, and this book strengthened my desire to read and write poems. I especially enjoyed the first section in which Greek myths and gods are infused into everyday life. My favorite poem of this collection is "Show, Don't Tell". I think it accurately captures the quandary of writing.