Altered States by Alan Catlin

Copyright 2023, Cyberwit

Review by LB Sedlacek

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cyberwit.net (February 18, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 54 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9395224738
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9395224734
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.89 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.14 x 8.5 inches

Alan Catlin has always been a favorite poet of mine.  He’s a staple in all types of poetry publications so I when I see his name in a journal or E-zine I’m looking at, I always look forward to reading it.

This new book is no exception.  At first glance the organization of it and the concept is intriguing enough to check it out just on that alone.  But there is so much more to discover.

The book contains poems about every state in the United States.  That’s 50 states so there are 50 poems beginning with the state of Alabama all the way to the last state (alphabetically), the state of Wyoming.

Having been to almost all of the 50 states (I lack going to 5 to make all 50), each poem gives a feel for that state.  It is interestingly memorable to read each poem about each state to see what he sees or writes about for every state. 

Catlin has the gift of voice, and he’s able to capture the essence of life in each particular state he’s writing about.  Of course, state can have a few different meanings as well.

From the poem:  “The State of North Carolina”:

“Cape Fear is the winter, white frozen
lumps of sand, balls of snow, dried weeds
blown seaward, night stopping broken waves,
twisted cross currents, full moon lit
beach rock casting dark cutting shadows
underwater. Ice clings to stone, rusting
iron, steel reinforced concrete bases
of stark storm turrets, lighthouses”

Being a Carolina gal, I chose the NC poem for my review sample.  Catlin’s poem here is a brilliant rendering of the NC coast.  It is also an example of Catlin’s intelligent writing, his gift for exquisite lines and words with soul.

“Altered States” reveals poems that dive deep into a sense of place and wonder.  All of these poems together make for a perfect gathering of poetry, state by state.

~LB Sedlacek is the author of several books of poetry including “Swim,” “Night Swim,” “The Poet Next Door,” “Simultaneous Submissions,” and “Words and Bones.”  Her most recent short stories collections include “Motor Addiction & The Renovator” and “The Jackalope Committee & Other Short Stories.”