M-80

Jim Daniels

I've been mulling this book over in my head for a couple of days now, figuring out what to write about it. I honestly still have no idea. Daniels obviously knows the ins and outs of the craft, and he's certainly capable of writing good, solid poems, which these are. Moreover, they (for the most part) get their messages out of the way and let the images do the talking, like all good poems do.

Thus the reason for my confusion. It's a technically fine book of poems, but nothing about it really fired me up, the way a book by someone like Charles Simic or Elizabeth Willis does. The only thing I can really think of to say about it is "it's good." But not great. Thus, it would seem, my problem; it doesn't merit effusive praise, nor does it merit disparagement. It's just... good.