Raul Jordan-smith

Innerverse: Poems Raul Jordan-smith

The poems in this book, InnerVerse, include an adult's reflections on childhood, juxtaposing tropical and wintry imagery. These poems magnify standard items and events, which see the extraordinary in the quotidian. Two of these poems deal with visible breath, expelled by schoolchildren in cold weather. "Sprinkles" narrates the story of an individual's first experience seeing a snowfall. The poem contrasts wintry imagery with references to warm weather. The speaker of "Sprinkles" reflects upon childhood innocence, when viewing snow for the first time. The poet desired to capture the yearning for a lost paradise in this poem, as well as in "Waiting for the Bus." The latter, originally entitled "The Cheesewagon," takes a present-day moment and relates it to the speaker's past. The speaker sits in the car, "waiting for the bus." This mirrors the way in which children hurry to grow up, while adults try to recapture the magic of childhood. In contrast, two poems in the collection echo family drama. "Early Morning Hours" relates the death of a family member. It begins and ends with the line: "We will be the lonely ones." This statement declares the loss felt by the family of the speaker, as news of a relative's death travels over a long distance. Furthermore, "A Warm Locale" offers irony, as the speaker's uncle fears crime in another location. The iron bars also show the boundaries people place between themselves.