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| Allie Marini |
This Elgin-nominated chapbook
contains thirteen poems, each an account of a different strange beast. I love
the way the chapbook is presented as a field guide with boxed scientific
summaries opening each poem. This central conceit plus the Southern flavor bind
the poems together.
I found this collection a
quick, highly entertaining read. There is sympathy toward the characters,
humans, and monsters that moved me. My favorite poem is "Honey Island
Swamp Monster," which combines affection for the freak show participants
with anger against the foul ringmaster. The poems' multi-column layout could
have been distracting, or indeed confusing, but instead I found it successful.
Overall, “Southern Cryptozoology” is a strong and imaginative chapbook.
--Mary Soon Lee
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