A Review and Translations

A Review and Translations

• Review -- Poet and Fiction Writer, Dr. Mary Dezember reviewed five collections of poetry, including Larew's Patchy Ways (CyberWit Press, 2023). Thanks to her for her enthusiasm and insights -- Five Poetry Books That Will Whisk You Away! — Mary Dezember

• Translations -- With help from poet Irma Kurti, more of Larew's poems (Soaked and Over Joys; see below) appear in Albanian in the Kosovo journal, Orfeu. Ms. Kurti is a wonderful poetry collaborator.  https://orfeu.al/hiram-larew-shqiperoi-irma-kurti

  
  

  Soaked

  Fame must be like driving

       in a downpour

       or squinting through it --

       trying to see

       what’s what at night

      with no one else around

       but with warnings everywhere

       loudly

  Or maybe being well known means in fact that

       wet shirts finally feel normal.

  Maybe in fact it’s when you suddenly get the chills

      from all the headlines

      and say a threadbare

     Well wow thank you

      in a shiver

  Truth be told

       acclaim is probably like when creeks flood 

       your low ground

       and only trees and dogs are watching

       from the bluff above

       as you flail by

       in a froth

  Yes, popularity is most likely like

       how her house smells --

       damp and musty forever --

       long after your dear loved great aunt

       has turned in her ticket

       for good

  
  

                        ***

  
  

  Over Joys

  There are far too few places in the world

  Where trees arch over the road.

  Fewer still that pause in the purpling light of autumn.

  And fewer than even that

  That gather within you alone

  Like secret inlets

  Or whispered barns.

  Yes

  Over joys are the rare times

  That loft their voices inside.