“Salt, Weasel, Corpse and Other”

by Jeremy Springsteed

Cyberwit, Copyright 2023

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cyberwit.net (May 11, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 94 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8196202687
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8196202682
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.5 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.24 x 8.5 inches

Review by LB Sedlacek

Springsteed dedicates his new book of poems to “the ghosts that thrash

around in my dreams.” It’s an interesting and perhaps inviting or even intriguing way to open up a book of poetry.

The title of the book also serves as the designations for the section divides in it as well. Additionally, each poem defines the sections.

Springsteed’s writing is clever and compelling. His poems are lean. Each one has teeth grabbing the reader and pulling them in.

Springsteed is able to balance the verses to reflect the overall theme of sorts for each section. The author carves out a space using an economy of words to express the thoughts, feelings, etc. going on in each one.

From the poem “Drunk Dog”:

“You always were the hair of the dog

Since you left I’ve become infatuated

Can’t click crumb because cackle pause

With collar bones and left fingers

The lay of the land the time of the day”

Springsteed uses space, characters, and really each line to his advantage creating a deep experience of illumination through poetry. He creates awareness, possibilities and essential texts.

His writing style is mostly free verse with some prose and forms included as well. He doesn’t limit himself to any one way of writing combining an endless array of ideals, happenings, and observations to elevate these poems.

From the poem “Corpse In A Frog’s Mouth”:

“The sky is leaking.

Stars streaking forked tongues.

A box full of Jupiter’s lies.”

Springsteed is very much who he is as a poet. His writing is clear and bright or somewhat dark depending on the theme of each individual poem. Each section stands alone on its own. Plus, each section complements the others to reveal a formidable book of poems.

The author’s images invoke a sort of alternate but very original reality. These are poems you’ll want to read on repeat to refill your world with Springsteed’s heart stopping images.

Springsteed effortlessly moves from abstract linguistics to narrative poems to conversational free verse. The author offers raw interactions with these poems and the reader making this a book of poems to keep out on your bookshelf.

~LB Sedlacek is the author of several books of poetry including “Unresponsive Sky,” “Chasing Sunsets,” “The Poet Next Door,” “Simultaneous Submissions,” and “I’m No Robot.”  Her short stories books include “The Jackalope Committee & Other Stories” and her poem novel is “The Blue Eyed Side.”