Woodman’s (Lifescapes) fourth book of poetry explores the ekphrastic, eloquently translating works of art to the page. Covering various media, from Mark Rothko paintings to Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” Woodman shares distinctive stories about each selected piece of art. In the poem “Vanquor,” she contemplates the out-of-body experience that can occur when getting lost in art: “Warhol slips into the Chairman’s left sleeve/ Bodies morph,/Merge as portrait, breathe in unison/ […] Three as one.” Meanwhile, “A Life Unravels with the Day” concocts a sober tale of an ill-fated cousin slowly being consumed by cancer—“her hair grows thin/she pulls the clumps,/as shedding begins.”

Woodman tends toward free verse, but each selection is as unique as the different works being explored. She approaches each with appreciation and compassion, such as her personification of Rothko’s Untitled, 1955, angry that it should remain nameless as that is no way to treat a friend— “ochre-brown, black mouth screaming.// The shout so loud, it blurs the lips,/ a forehead turns dark red in fury.” Woodman’s tone is often bittersweet or tinged with sadness while she illuminates the fleeting nature of some of her subjects, lamenting that not even seemingly sacred statues are immune to change in “Too Young To Understand”: “He’s condemned to storage/ Weakened in isolation/Bronze shoulders worn by touches/ Messages lost in his lungs.”

Woodman often weaves complex metaphors throughout the poems, though at times they edge into the complicated, making it a challenge to untangle them. Despite some meandering, she concocts vivid stories that invite readers into each piece and its history and impact, even bringing to life women inspired by ancient cave paintings. Though the imagery can be reductive—Chagall’s Paris through the Windows is boiled down to “swaths of vermilion, streaks of royal blue, icy white shafts”—this collection is full of memorable symbolism, thought-provoking insight, and deep engagement with the power of art.

Takeaway: A heartfelt exploration of great works of art that imparts a new layer to each storied work.

Great for fans of: Paisley Rekdal’s When It Is Over It Will Be Over, Sarah L. Thomson’s Imagine a Place.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A