Dear Editor: Poems (Karen & Michael Braziller Books)
Newman’s prose poems—a series of letters to an editor regarding a book manuscript—at first glance seem a little too precious. But she quickly defies that expectation with this haunting and evocative collection, her fourth. The title of the manuscript, described as a “lyrical study of chess,” X = Pawn Capture, seems to pose the question, What does this symbol mean?  With this query at the very heart of the book, Newman goes on to ask, How can  the imagery and tropes of saints, chess, and letters to the editor accurately, or at the very least adequately, capture the essence of an experience? Like the poet’s letters, this question goes unanswered, and Newman is left trying to ritualistically fill in the gaps with as many explanations and metaphors as possible. At the same time, she acknowledges that the most poetic part of poetry is the space between metaphors and images. And it is in those gaps that the reader finds enough hints to discern the shadowy beauty and pain just barely out of reach. A surprising and delightful collection. --Sarah Hunter