The Bird Hoverer

by Aaron Belz

"The impressive, loopy poems in Aaron Belz's first full-length collection are touched by a raw grace of mind and nimble phrasing. The poems stage deft quarrels with the same pop complacencies that inspire them, as in 'Hidden Microphones,' where the speaker's enthusiasm about surveillance culture overwhelms him and he can't help but exclaim, 'I am all about hidden microphones.' Readers will find themselves rattled, delightfully, as Belz juggles the gods of the past with the gods of celebrity culture—always wired to an ethics of spectacle that resists becoming 'all about hidden microphones.'" —Tony Trigilio, Boston Review
 
"Aaron Belz is out to get you. Get you thinking, get you laughing, get you good. The poems in his first full-fledged collection, The Bird Hoverer , will get to you, too. In other words, they're smart and funny, and also big-hearted." —Marc Kipniss, Jacket
 
"Filled with wild metaphors and imaginative premises, this book turns tradition on its head while parodying Walt Whitman, Ben Affleck, and just about everyone else who crosses this inventive poet's path... Five stars." —Kristina Marie Darling, Rattle

Genres: Poetry

78 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2007

About the author

Aaron Belz has won basically every writing award there is. If you know of a writing award he hasn't won, please notify your mom.

Reviews

[Abigail Danfora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great poems! I've had this (and Lovely, Raspberry) on my shelf since Christmas and only just now had a chance to read it (and I'm glad I did!). I especially loved 'The Preserve,' 'Two Sides of a Story,' and 'Things That Tend not to Collapse."

I guess I'm more picky about poetry than about other writing--I usually either love it or am completely bored by it. In general, I loved the poems in The Bird Hoverer--some of them were completely hilarious, while others could have been the foundation for deep philosophical debates. Several of the poems fit into both categories--lots of line-blurring.

In general, great poems! Enjoyed reading them on the beach over spring break!

[Hater Shepard]

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[Rupert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff. Actually went straight back to page one after reading the final poem.

[Brian K]

Interesting to see how Belz's work has changed from this first (self-pubbed?) offering to his later collections Lovely, Raspberry and Glitter Bomb (of both of which I am fond).