Poems Mostly of the Sea

by Jenne Kaivo

"A Sea-Change

Why have you come down to the water and forgot yourself?/ I could not be myself./ My thoughts went drifting through the metal sea./ I was the ocean./ I drank all that was there,/ sand and my angry waves that tear the shore./ How could I drink the stone coast with myself?/ Do dead stars burn so you can know yourself?/ The dead stars burn over the metal sea./ I could not stand my rage, or hear my eagle scream/ not bounce back from the sea./ You think you crush the strong shells with yourself?/ They have their sheen, all rainbow whorls like an oil-slick./ I could not stand the sheen./ I've never held a lover to myself./ My thoughts went soaring past the airy sky./ I thought I drowned the world,and turned myself to elements and stars./I came down to the water to forget myself."/

An assortment of poems written by Jenne Kaivo between the years 2003 and 2018. Structured and free-verse, villanelle and sestina, these poems explore the themes of identity and humanity, with a great interest in the natural world.

Genres: Poetry

101 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2019

Reviews

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed By Susan Violante for Reader Views (10/19)

I picked up “Poems Mostly of the Sea” by Jenne Kaivo because the cover intrigued me. The title spoke of the sea, but the imagery reflected something different. It wasn’t until I read the introduction that I realized the extent of the author’s profound message. I was glad I did because it made me understand the ‘sea’ reference in the title and understand how the poems related with each other throughout the book. At first glance the book seems an eclectic collection of poems.

However, this collection’s eclecticism is not based on the topics within, it is based on the different styles of poetry the author uses to convey the broad message of the collection. The collection begins with ‘Prayer to Darkness,’ ‘Anglerfish,’ and other works which refer directly to the sea and its creatures. My favorite of these was ‘By the Sea it’s Safe and Quiet.’ Then the author moves to more profound topics with works like ‘When I Will Tell Children, ‘The Sickness of the Spirit,’ (one of my favorites), ‘Grazing Dinosaurs,’ and ‘For Shame’ among others. Towards the end I found more favorites like: ‘Unnatural,’ ‘The Innocent Says,’ and ‘The Life I thought I Had.’

What all of the above have in common, is the profound messages that can be absorbed from them – how different they are in style, yet how they inspired the same feelings in me as I read each one of them, and finally, how they reflect the author’s amazing flair, being able to portray her voice in so many different styles and topics, bringing this collection into a cohesive circle of life on planet Earth through time, and the physical and spiritual realms.

Jenne Kaivo’s voice reflects depth in thought and topic, playfulness in how she plays with vocabulary, rhyme and structure in so many different formats, and relatability as all readers from any time and culture will feel a connection as creatures of planet Earth. Below is a short favorite of mine which I hope it will show a little sample of what I mean:

“Bomb
The sky’s collapsing
from the weight
of all the light
it holds! The birds
are sweet
and sticky.
A twitter and moan
and the locusts
are gone
There is steam
on the ground and
nothing is fun
anymore.”

“Poems Mostly of the Sea” by Jenne Kaivo is definitely a Five-Star must-read collection for all readers who enjoy thought provoking and reflection inspiring works. I believe this book should be revisited from time to time to discover and surprise ourselves as we find new messages and meanings as we grow. Jenne Kaivo is an author to follow.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of exactly what the title says, "Poems Mostly of the Sea". I'm landlocked in Wyoming and I miss the sea all the time. Ms. Kaivo captured the sea, the beach and all that you find there very well. Some of the poems remind of how Pablo Neruda write about the sea. Not that she copies Neruda or writes like Neruda, more that I identify with the works in a similar fashion. The poems are all peace and beauty, but they're real. Each poem leads to the next and they work together to form a whole, kind of like bones and a skeleton.

[Maggie G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Poems Mostly of the Sea” is a wonderful book of poems that include haunting, real-life horrors, interspersed with the beauty that is the sea, and all it can do for the world around it. It’s a book of poems that describe life, death, and rebirth, and Kaivo does a wonderful job of putting these things into poem. For a full review, see: https://www.atticvoices.com/2019/poem...

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to win this book in a giveaway!

The author has a talent for imagery. The writing felt very raw and pensive, but there was a bit of dark humor as well, which I liked. I didn't feel a personal connection to most of the poems, but I am also not exactly a poetry enthusiast. In the end, I do think it's definitely worth a read for fans of contemporary poetry.

[NerdieGurl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Want my cup of tea. I may not like adult poetry like I thought. This was hard for me to follow. 😖

[Vanessa Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to reaf

[Kasey]

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book as a giveaway recipient. I am excited to read it and will update my thoughts on this book soon!