Thursday, January 28, 2021

Heidi Blakeslee's review of TODAY IS A MICHIGAN GHOST TOWN by Matt Borczon (Concrete Mist Press)



Matt Borczon’s writing has grace. If I see a Borczon poem anywhere, I immediately know it is his just by looking at the form.  The idiosyncratic line that he has developed for his unique voice is both superb and bold.  Every word belongs.  Every simile fits.  He never misspeaks. 


The poetry flows down the page and the speed of the lines can lull you into a false sense of comfort, but only for so long.  I know that there is almost always a punch in the gut, or three or four coming soon.  Truth bombs.  Unequivocal, relatable, and sometimes downright dirty.  Every poem has at least one and every bomb resonates throughout the rest of the book.  He expertly weaves his musings on the rough sides of life with the delicate skeletons of his past. 

 

Favorite themes in this work include: the strength of nature, feeling like you are one against the world, getting lucky, dogged determination, music, and loves both lost and lingering.


Best of all, at the end of the work is an interview with Scott Thomas Outlar which provides a wonderful cap of information about Matt’s start in writing, and his inspirations.


 I would recommend TODAY IS A MICHIGAN GHOST TOWN  for anyone looking to dig a little deeper.  For those gnarled punk rock souls who love the stew.  For hard-fighting dogs.  For hard-drinking youths who need communion.  This is for all of them, and you.


Southern gothic


Beneath 

unblinking stars

blind cats

bump along

the alley

and nobody

begs change

on the

street corners

of this

dead city

ghosts haunt

the doorways

and the

diners as

lost children

call home

and leave

messages

on ancient

answering machines

in the

hum of

the tape 

noise they

tell their

parents

they are

ok still

alive still

moving like

sharks swimming

across the

deep south

where they

listen to

thunder 

without lightning

and know 

it is only

the devil

setting the

table


they know

this because

the devil 

is the

only one

who doesn’t

have to

wait for

the rain.


Matthew Borczon is a poet from Erie Pa. He has written 15 books of poetry so far. He publishes widely in both print and online journals. He has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and a Best of the Net. When not writing he is a nurse for developmentally disabled adults. He is married and has four great kids.


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