Title: Poetry to Challenge the Senses
Author: Donald Elix
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4917-8936-3
Pages: 56
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed by: Bradley Whitfield
Buy on AmazonPacific Book Review
Emerging into the published realm of poetry is Donald Elix’s collection titled Poetry to Challenge the Senses, bringing forth his writings clearly stated as being his enjoyment. Each cleverly titled poem has a distinguished subtle realization of an underpinning of the elements of nature; such as the rain, cold, sunsets and warmth of a fire seem to dominate his senses. However it is not where he is nor what he is seeing within his writings that captivates, but rather who his written voice speaks to, the intended reader; his desire to share his sensitive observations and correlations of the meanings of truth, life and love.
Some of his poems are intentionally a bit deceptive, masking the name of the identifiable person he is writing about which was a romantic and carnal part of his life, keeping it as an enigma, a gentlemanly thing to do, while others are extremely straightforward in the storytelling of moments encapsulated into his prose. Without an identifiable beat nor rhyme, the foot of Elix’s poetry takes on a free association aspect of the Beat culture. Although not the gloomy, smoke filled coffee house style of Jack Kerouac, Poetry to Challenge the Senses brings the reader into the healthier outdoor elements of the Pacific Northwest, which is evident in Elix’s imagery. The rain, in fact, would be one of Elix’s characters, if this book were a novel.
It is hard to pick favorites, but I particularly enjoyed Mirrors of Emotion, where Elix tries to persuade his lover to smile even though it’s rainy and gloomy outside. Also, in A Place for Me, you get the sense of how special being alone can be and how enjoyable having your own space can empower your thoughts; a very good lesson for many to learn. Obviously this most often was the place enriching the feelings Elix used as a canvas for his word art.
Frankly I was a bit surprised when I saw the cover, having read the book in the e- version prior. I would have personally imagined a sunset image along the coast as being more the theme than the damp streetlights of what appears to be downtown Portland. Yet knowing how much time people spend in Powell’s Books, it now makes complete sense.
I was pleased with the galley text being spaciously laid out in a sequence of flowing blank pages; offering significant time to pause for reflection between poems. I also enjoyed the artistic calligraphy drop cap font bringing the first word into a pregnant paused moment to comprehend the meaning of the word, giving the reader what I would call a “starting gate” to commence on each poem.
Terse enough of a collection to be read in one sitting, my suggestion would be to pick it up at various times for brief inspirations. In this scenario, I believe this book would be ideal addition to a doctor’s waiting room, or on a coffee table, or as a companion book on a trip. Poetry to Challenge the Senses not only is a keepsake for the Elix family, but a wonderful addition to any family library.
