Relationships

Martin Singleton was a poet living in Toronto.

This is one of the first four titles from Moonstone Press. With four typos and titles that are occasionally blurred, quality control is obviously not one of their strengths. The facing drawings (presumably by the author, since no credit is cited) are crude pen and ink; many express misogynistic themes. Several are effective, but most reflect the slightness of the poems.

One of Shipley’s greatest faults is his singularly awkward use of language: “talismans,” “garlic garlands,” “you laugh-eyed /mother of children,” “arm and arming steps” are not likely to inspire confidence in the poet’s mastery of his craft. Following the popular trend, most of the poems are imagistic, but Shipley seldom makes any effort to move beyond the strictures of that form — accordingly, most are slight and predictable, although occasionally good lines such as “she was the warranty cheek /on my masculinity” emerge.

The book’s last few poems attempt, and usually achieve, more. “Cry Uncle” is a longer poem exploring the ambiguities of incest from the victim’s perspective; “Recorder Concert” an ambitious conceit of baroque music as confection; “Ancient Obituary Gifts of Myrhh” successfully weds themes of Christmas and an auto crash; finally, “Train” is a long prose poem integrating realism and fantasy. These poems show that Shipley can write; unfortunately, most of the rest is all the worse by comparison.