“Watermelon Linguistics” New and Selected Poems by Alexis Krasilovsky

“Watermelon Linguistics”

New and Selected Poems

by Alexis Krasilovsky

Reviewed by LB Sedlacek

“Watermelon Linguistics” is a compilation poetry book which includes works from previous publications or films as well as new poems.  The author includes a photo collages at the beginning of each section.  Those give a bit of visual insight into each section.

Krasilovsky’s passion grabs and embraces the reader in each poem.  She uses language in startling but also dazzling ways.

Written mostly in free verse with occasional rhyming lines, the poems vary in length from short to several pages.  The use of punctuation, line spaces, and indentations encourage pauses and/or reflections of what the author is trying to say.

There is a cascade of visuals in each poem.  Word choices seem direct in most of the verses.  Yet, these poems are ones to revisit.

From the poem “Pastriology”

“Ah, pastriology:
the Pastry Shop of Dreams—
where our dreams are made of chocolate,
melting in the hot afternoon;
dreams of Chocolate-y Heaven
in a cake of cloud-like mousse;
dreams that float
like fairy dust from a magical wand,
a wand becoming a rifle...”

Krasilovsky adeptly weaves her poems from one place to another.  The contrasts can be unexpected but the mosaic she creates is enchanting.

Many difficult subjects are addressed in the book compilation along with a wide variety of them as well.  She delves into the Garden of Eden, birthing, Sylvia Plath, motherhood, exile, Mickey Mouse and earthquakes to name a few.  The ability to create works with different themes, so to speak, and then coordinate them well with one another is another part of necessary art.

From the poem “Waltzing Over Watermelons”

“There once was a curious drone
who liked to set out on her own,
waltzing over watermelons”

Her poems blur boundaries.  They seem to connect the personal view with much wider contexts.   

From the poem “One Way to Oblivion”:  “Underneath are stars / swept in with the dust.” 

These poems beg for a deeper look underneath the surface.  Krasilovsky has expertly combined her film and writing skills into her truths in her verses.  There are many layers here to unpeel.